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| Chris Perez |
San Antonians took time to reflect on the life of Tejano singer, Selena, at a vigil in San Antonio attended by her widower, Chris Perez Tuesday night.
About 300 people gathered at the vigil in Northwest San Antonio to mark the 20th anniversary of Selena's death.
Towards the end of the vigil, Selena's widower, Chris Perez, told the crowd he has mourned his late wife's death differently this year. Normally, Perez said he secludes himself. This year, he said the outpouring of love from fans inspired him to be with them.
"On the 20th anniversary of the tragedy that happened in 1995, let's lift up Selena's legacy and inspire generations to come," said Perez.
Selena was shot on March 31, 1995 outside a Corpus Christi motel. The Grammy winner was meeting her fan club president Yolanda Salidvar to confront her over missing club funds. Salidvar was convicted in the singer's death and is now serving a life sentence.
Salidvar's name was never mentioned at the candlelight ceremony. Instead, fans sang Selena's songs and emulated her famous moves.
"She's in everybody's heart with her music just hearing good things about her," said fan Priscilla Gutierrez. Priscilla was only two when Selena died, but she is a devoted fan, because of her mother Norma Gutierrez.
Selena was Gutierrez's English student at a junior high in Corpus Christi. "[I remember] the little gummy bears that she would throw against the bulletin board, and I told her, 'Give me your signature. One day you'll be rich and famous,'" Norma Gutierrez -Selena's former teacher, said.
Gutierrez said Selena was already known in Corpus Christi, as she sang at her family's restaurants and at school fundraisers. Selena's former teacher said Selena's family values made people love her in life and in death.
"She's a role model for young people today," said Gutierrez. "Everywhere we go, the young girls are singing Selena's music."
15-year-old Annerys Lizardi sang one of Selena's hits while dressed in costume similar to the burgundy outfit Selena wore at her performance in Houston's Astrodome shortly before her death.
"She was humble," said Lizardi. "She didn't think of herself as higher than anyone. She thought of herself as an everyday person."
Selena & Chris Perez ~ I'll always here, close to you
Cr.Kens5 Post
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