Joplin Memorial Sculpture honoring victims of the 2011 Tornado to be unveiled

Ted BojorquezNovember 29, 2022

Joplin Tornado Schools — In this photo taken June 14, 2011, a damaged sign for Joplin High School is seen in front of the heavily-damaged school in Joplin, Mo. The school was one three schools in the city destroyed by an EF5 tornado that wiped out much of the community last month and caused $151 million in damages to the school district's buildings. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The Joplin Memorial Sculpture honoring the 161 victims of the 2011 Joplin Tornado will be unveiled and dedicated at 10 am, Wednesday, November 30th by Active Lifestyle Events, Inc.

The sculpture is located on the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex and will feature the names of the 161 who lost their lives which will serve as a permanent memorial honoring these individuals. The families of the victims as well as the Joplin Community are invited for the unveiling.

Audie Dennis, Active Lifestyle Events, Inc. President said, “This sculpture captures our organization’s dream of providing something significant to the community that also honors those we lost on May 22nd, 2011. This beautiful sculpture not only honors them, but the banner depicted recognizes the role the runners played in helping this happen. It is a fantastic piece of art, placed on the lawn of our arts and entertainment center that will lead our city into the future.”

“It is my heartfelt pleasure,” says Tonya Sprenkle Active Lifestyle Events, Inc. Treasurer, “to see this permanent sculpture in honor of those that lost their lives that fateful day in May. We RUN to REMEMBER you as we REBUILD without you, says so much to me as we have shared in the loss of so many families over the years. May those that pass by this statue forever remember.”

Active Lifestyle Events, Inc are the providers of local community activities such as the Joplin Memorial Run.