Monday, July 22 2013, 06:54 AM EDT

Movie Theater Massacre: 1 Year Later

AURORA, Colo. (AP) -- Survivors of mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut were among those gathered Friday in a suburban Denver park to honor those killed in the massacre at an Aurora movie theater a year after the attack. One of those victims was Matt McQuinn, a Springfield native, threw his body across his girlfriend to save her life.

Vigil participants read a list of names of those killed in recent gun violence around the nation and talked about the pain of losing loved ones.

The scene was somber, even as gun rights activists stood silently nearby, holding signs to rebut messages about stricter gun control.

The Rocky Mountain Gun Owners Association was holding a counter-rally nearby. They have assailed Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a sponsor of Friday's remembrance, saying the group was politicizing tragedies and has attacked Second Amendment rights.