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# One year later, Market Crash site to be memorialized
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/one-year-later-market-crash-site-to-be-memorialized/
- Published: 2004-07-14T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:43:43.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Business, Promenade, #archive-import

*Memorial to spring anew for market crash victims*

*By Daily Press staff*

With the one-year anniversary of one of the city’s worst tragedies just two days away, the victims of the Farmers’ Market crash will be remembered and the site memorialized during today’s market.

The Interfaith Bay Council, comprised of religious leaders from all denominations, will open today’s market with a reconsecration of the site where an elderly driver killed 10 and injured 63 people. The ritual, which blesses the space where many people lost their lives and were injured, will be held at the intersection of the Third Street Promenade and Arizona Avenue at 9 a.m.

Religious leaders have been told by residents that they have mixed feelings about the space surrounding the Farmers’ Market, a place typically full of laughter, life and community. But ever since Russell Weller, an 87-year-old Santa Monica resident, lost control of his car and drove through the crowded street 52 Wednesdays ago, there has been a dark cloud lingering.

“The events that occurred here a year ago affected people from all walks of life,” remarked Mayor Richard Bloom. “I am awestruck at the resiliency all have shown in the face of such great tragedy.”

The Interfaith Bay Council also is encouraging people to donate non-perishable food items for the Westside Foodbank. The drop-off area will be at the corner of the Promenade and Arizona Avenue, where a makeshift memorial will be erected over the next few days.

Large memorial placards bearing more than 1,000 messages of sympathy and support for the family and friends of the victims will again be publicly displayed to commemorate the first anniversary of the disaster.

The placards will be displayed during today’s farmers’ market at the location where a spontaneous flower-and-candle memorial for the victims sprang up last year. The public will be invited to add additional signatures and personal support messages to the placards.

“In our sadness, we have learned much about the strength of the human spirit,” said Bloom.”

On Friday — the actual one-year anniversary — a community-wide healing ceremony will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, 1220 Second St. Call (310) 451-1303 for more information. Another ceremony will be staged in the form of a closing prayer at Saturday’s market.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 14, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071404.pdf?ref=smdp.com)