35,000 Red Roses Placed Around The Stage At Kobe And Gianna Bryant's Memorial

Feb 25, 2020 by apost team

The "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service happened on Monday, February 24th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The public memorial service was held in the same arena where Kobe played the majority of his 20-year professional basketball career with the LA Lakers. 

Legendary NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were survived by his wife, Vanessa Bryant, and their three other children: Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, 8 months. Vanessa spoke for the first time since the tragedy at the public memorial service. About her late husband and daughter, Vanessa said:

"God knew they couldn't be on this earth without each other."

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Fellow basketball star Michael Jordan spoke at the memorial about his former opponent fondly saying that Kobe "wanted to be the best basketball player that he could be. And as I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be."

Prior to the public memorial, a private funeral for Kobe and Gianna was held on Friday, February 7th, at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, California. The funeral service was two weeks after Kobe and Gianna died in a helicopter crash along with Alyssa Latobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser, and the pilot, Ara Zobayan. 

The "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" began at 10 a.m. PST on Monday, February 24th and was held inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, the home of the LA Lakers. 

Guests included Kobe's wife Vanessa, her three daughters, and other family and friends of the Bryants, Lakers players, and other NBA officials. 

Lee Zeidman, president of the Staples Center said that there were 35,000 red roses surrounding the stage for the memorial. Those that attended received a T-Shirt with images of Kobe and Gianna, as well as a program for the service. 

The Los Angeles Kings wore memorial jerseys in honor of Kobe and Gianna one day prior to the public service, during the team's warm-ups before they played the Edmonton Oilers at the Staples Center. 

The date of the memorial, February 24th, 2020, held special significance, as explained by Vanessa Bryant on her Instagram. Vanessa clarified how No. 2 was Gianna's jersey number and No. 24 was Kobe's jersey number from the 2006-2007 season until his retirement. 

20 was the number of years that Kobe had a career as an LA Laker, as well as the number of years he and Vanessa were together. Gianna's jersey number has been retired by her school earlier this month at a ceremony at Harbor Day School in Corona del Mar, California.

We hope Kobe, Gianna, and the other victims of the crash rest in peace. What do you think about the Kobe and Gianna public memorial? Did you attend yourself or watch the livestream? Let us know your thoughts on the matter and pass this along so others can weigh-in as well.