Route 91 survivors host support groups at Stagecoach
Thousands are arriving into the Coachella Valley for Stagecoach, one of the largest country music festivals since last October’s Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas.
Six months later, people are still healing from the tragedy at Route 91, where 58 lives were taken in the the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
“My 12-year-old looked at me and said ‘Are we going to die tonight? Why is someone trying to kill me,’ and she’s 12 and nobody else gets that. But my fellow survivors understand. So it’s really important we be here to help each other through this weekend,” said Stacie Armentrout, one of the survivors of the mass shooting.
Armentrout was among the 22,000 attending the festival, a memory that’s been haunting Armentrout as the days led up to Stagecoach.
“Preparing for this has been very nerve-wracking. I know that it’s brought back a lot of emotion, the fear, the nerves, the nightmares, and not just for me and my husband,” Armentrout said.
About 500 Route 91 survivors will also be in attendance. Armentrout is coordinating a support group for those involved in the tragedy, who she now calls family.
“We’re going to make sure we have places to meet up and be there for each other. So, if anyone is having a hard time or struggling with anything then we can be there for each other,” Armentrout said. “So that way, as we go through this, we’ll go through this together.”
With heightened security and a multi-agency approach, Armentrout says there is a sense of peace.
“It’s still a little nerving to see police officers. The lights and such are still a trigger and a reminder, sirens are still a trigger at times but it’s a huge comfort to know there’s such a huge (police) presence,” Armentrout said.
With flags standing strong and the support of the country-music community, Armentrout says her family will heal.
“We don’t want to let the evil of one person take over. We don’t want to let that win,” Armentrout said. “It’s one of those we have to try to do it. Even if I sit at the camper all weekend, at least I made an attempt.”
if you are attending the festival and want more information on the support groups, visit the Route 91 Family Facebook page.
You can find more information on Stagecoach here.
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