It’s been nearly four months and Lafayette will never forget what happened at the Grand 16.

Thursday night, new memories were made as the community gathered to celebrate the reopening of the theatre. The events started at Mellow Mushroom with a “Thank you” to first responders for their service the night of the shooting and for being heroes’ everyday with dinner on the house.

John Witt with Acadian Ambulance said, “I think it is a symbol of resiliency, I think it needs to happen (Grand 16 reopening).  We don’t want that particular event to overshadow all the good things that happen here in Lafayette.  You can tell by all the support that we have a great community and I just think we need to open it back up,”

Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Acadian Ambulance, Randall Mann told KLFY’s Lydia Magallanes, “Some closure for them (first responders). They were very upset that they weren’t able to save everyone to be honest with you.  They took it personally, Lafayette is their community too. So it was nice for them to see the fence go down and the renovations.”

First responders, community leaders and residents alike gathered for a blessing over the theater given by Father Lloyd Benoit, pastor of the church Mayci Breaux’s family attends. After a ribbon cutting, the Grand 16 officially opened its doors to the public.

Julie Saesta who came to the movies with her family says, “We are a city that comes together and there’s a sense of family that you can’t find anywhere else in the world.  As much as it hurt going through this, through the pain we became stronger.”

A friend gave moviegoer Lacie Boudreaux tickets to the Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II. She told KLFY, “It’s a very resilient place and it’s great to see such support and love in one city with so many people who are willing to support people they don’t even know.”