Thousands streamed into the San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil honoring the 14 people killed and 21 injured in Wednesday's mass shooting.
"Stand by Me" and "Wind Beneath My Wings" played over the loudspeakers of the 5,000-seat stadium as mourners arrived, some clutching signs of support and photos of those killed. Outside the stadium, some had lined up for more than hour before the vigil to pay their respects.
"We are a city full of optimists who are still here and will stay here because we believe God has something great for San Bernardino," Pastor Joshua Beckley said. "San Bernardino, we may be down, but we're not out."
Mayor R. Carey Davis echoed Beckley's sentiment, thanking the city's first responders for their swift response to the tragedy.
"They didn't ask for that challenge but they rose to the occasion," Davis said. "This tragedy will not paralyze us or keep us from moving forward or growing closer together."
The crowd closed the vigil by singing "God Bless America" and offering a standing ovation to the city's first responders, followed by a candlelight reading of the 14 victims' names.
They've turned off the stadium lights and are reading the names of the victims of the shooting. #SBShooting pic.twitter.com/eY118EOKaH— Soumya Karlamangla (@skarlamangla) December 4, 2015
Hundreds have gathered to pray for #SanBernardino at a candle light vigil at San Manuel Stadium. pic.twitter.com/p5U2Hq2yPN— Rachel*Luna (@Rache1Luna) December 4, 2015
Overwhelming community support in San Bernardino. More than 3,000 people have filled the stadium pic.twitter.com/3YVeOF5PkA— Nereida Moreno (@nerayduh_moreno) December 4, 2015
Victims' photos at the vigil at @66ersBaseball stadium in San Bernardino. #SanBernardinoShooting pic.twitter.com/aJe1ulvrxT
— Jennifer Maher (@JCMaherPhoto) December 4, 2015
Standing ovation in San Bernardino for The First Responders. #SBStrong #SanBernardinoShooting pic.twitter.com/RXsZtMrBAI— Beverly White (@BeverlyNBCLA) December 4, 2015
Crowd rises, joins in singing "God Bless America" at #SanBernardino vigil. pic.twitter.com/V7B55p5o4u— Kate Mather (@katemather) December 4, 2015
Woman says she's lived in San Bernardino all of her life. At tonight's vigil to show her support. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/gERFxdcXDL
— Artie Ojeda (@ArtieNBCSD) December 4, 2015
Mayor of San Bernardino currently giving a speech here at vigil in honor of Wednesday's shooting @VVDailyPress pic.twitter.com/GeorEoPzHm— Jose Huerta (@jose_hue2) December 4, 2015
Can anything good come from San Bernardino? crowd goes from silence to raucous cheers pic.twitter.com/JUQdCN3cBZ— Jennifer Medina (@jennymedina) December 4, 2015
Gathering at San Bernardino stadium for vigil. Many people holding candles. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/m3SdtIo8E0
— Artie Ojeda (@ArtieNBCSD) December 4, 2015
It's getting crowded at the vigil now. And it's about to start. #SanBernardino pic.twitter.com/hvtehyS1KH— Marcus Yam (@yamphoto) December 4, 2015
Mourners await the start of the San Bernardino shooting vigil. pic.twitter.com/74QCX49TQC— Matt Boone (@MattBoone29) December 4, 2015
Security tight for crowd of approx 2K #SanBernardino Mayor says @POTUS called this AM & praised the city #SBStrong pic.twitter.com/jufsSG9VQW— Beverly White (@BeverlyNBCLA) December 4, 2015
A growing display of candles and flowers at the memorial tonight in San Bernardino pic.twitter.com/9N1LdtNsq7— Paloma Esquivel (@palomaesquivel) December 4, 2015
People have already started to line up for 6pm vigil for #sanbernardino victims. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/EZvUAP6RNf
— Artie Ojeda (@ArtieNBCSD) December 4, 2015
Program for tonight's vigil. #MySB #SanBernardino pic.twitter.com/80BpmfS4JA— Mayor R. Carey Davis (@SBMayorDavis) December 3, 2015
Other vigils were held simultaneously at St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Baitul Hameed Mosque, the county's largest mosque.
The Rev. David McGlocklin lights parishioners' candles as they sing "This little light of mine." #SanBernardino pic.twitter.com/szagBkrAeB— Sarah Parvini (@sarahparvini) December 4, 2015
Sun sets at Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino, where Ahmadiyya Muslims holding prayer vigil for San Bernardino victims. pic.twitter.com/bKEA6IHWqj— Hailey Branson-Potts (@haileybranson) December 4, 2015