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The Texas Tribune
The Texas Tribune
National
Uriel J. García

Broken hearts lead to broken traditions in Uvalde as Mata family celebrates first holidays without Tess

The Mata's decrorate Tess' grave for Christmas at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Uvalde on Dec. 22, 2022. They placed two light up miniature christmas trees on either side of the tree that is growing at Tess' headstone.
Jerry Mata, left, and his daughter Faith Mata sit at the grave of Tess — who was killed at age 10 in the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde — on Dec. 22 at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery. “I just kept asking myself, ‘Why? Why me?’” Jerry says of the death of his younger daughter. (Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune)

Editor’s note: This story contains explicit language.

On a gray and cloudy afternoon on Nov. 1, the start of Día de los Muertos, four men carry an altar for 19 children and two teachers slain in the massacre at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School. As they walk from the state Capitol, dozens of friends, relatives and supporters, as well as most of the victims’ parents, follow behind.

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