The author reflects on the impact of trauma on communities following mass shootings, which often occur without significant attention. The article suggests that trauma can persist long beyond the day of the tragedy, with the impact on employees, families, first responders, and neighbors still present. Trauma can be traced back to conversations, anniversaries, and when another shooting occurs nearby, it rears up. The author notes that when communities fail to acknowledge the long-term effects of trauma, these effects persist. The memorial in Virginia Beach represents years of effort by a committee to remember those who were lost and reflect on the lives affected by that day.