Gabby Petito remembered in NY hometown with a solemn candlelight vigil
Heartbroken residents of Gabby Petito’s hometown on Long Island lit up their small beachfront community Friday night in a grim vigil. Nicknamed “Light the Night for Gabby Petito,” the ceremony in quiet Blue Point and neighboring communities honored the life of the murdered 22-year-old, whose body was found and identified in Grand Teton National Park Tuesday before returning to Long Island.
Hundreds of neighbors took the end of their driveways at dusk for the citywide vigil and lanterns solemnly lit, which could be purchased the day before at Blue Point Nature Preserve for a $ 20 donation to the Petito family.
Others paid their respects to Petito with candles and lights of their own.
Groups of neighbors walked together through the old Petito neighborhood in a silent procession, remembering the 2017 Bayport-Blue Point High School graduate.
The grieving community decorated thousands of trees with blue ribbons early in the week before the ceremony. The blue was chosen because it reminds Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, “of Gabby’s eye color,” organizer Jennifer McNamara of the Johnny Mac Foundation told The Post.
“It is beyond amazing. It’s just in life: Gabby was a shining star. And now, in her death, she’s the brightest star, ”said Noreen Gibbons, who said she considered herself to be Gabby’s second grandmother. said News 12 Long Island on Friday.
Jennifer Horton of Blue Point joined the tribute to the tragically lost community member by putting up some lights at the end of her trip, News 12 reported.
“When the community loses one, we all do it,” Horton said. So remember what a great life he had. Losing her so young and just to celebrate her life. ”
A sign has also been posted on Nicolls Road and Montauk Highway near the Petito family home.
A memorial is scheduled for Saturday in North Port, Florida, where friends will release butterflies and light candles in honor of Petito. The event in front of the North Port City Hall will begin at 7:15 pm
A public service at Moloney Funeral Home in Holbrook is scheduled for Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Petito’s father, Joseph Petito confirmed on friday.
Gabby Petito was reported missing by her family on September 11 after taking a week-long cross-country truck trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie, who returned to North Port only on September 1.
Petito was last seen alive at a Wyoming restaurant on August 27, and her mother received her last text message from her phone on August 30.
His body was found in a remote section of a Wyoming national forest and his death was ruled a homicide by the Teton County Coroner’s Office.
Laundrie was reported missing by her parents on September 17 after went on a supposed hike from Carlton Reserve, a 25,000-acre nature preserve in Sarasota County, on Sept. 14. charged by the FBI on Friday in connection with Petito’s death as authorities continue to search the swamps of South Florida for him.
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