Nearly a thousand people stood under cloudy skies and pouring rain to say goodbye to a girl most of them never met.

Community members, search volunteers and authorities gathered Saturday to celebrate the life of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway with a balloon release at American Furniture Warehouse, 10455 Sheridan Blvd.

Later that night, people also gathered for a candlelight vigil at Westminster City Park, 9410 Wadsworth Parkway.

The events took place the day after police announced DNA tests identified the girl’s remains found in Pattridge Park Open Space Park in Arvada Oct. 10.

Jessica was last seen alive walking to school on Oct. 5.

Christi Smith and four other Thornton residents brought a single heart or star-shaped mylar balloon in Jessica’s favorite color — purple.

Around 2:15 p.m., the crowd released its balloons and watched as they dotted the grey sky above them.

“This is our community, this is our town and these are our kids,” Smith said as she fought back tears. “They are not property to be taken. No parent should have to bury their child.”

A. Bunt, who lives several blocks away from the Ridgeway family’s home, said she has been involved in the search for Jessica for nearly a week and wanted to stand in solidarity for the girl’s family.

“I’m very proud of my community,” Bunt said. “Yes, I hope her killer is caught. Yes, I hope her killer is brought to justice. It’s atrocious. It’s just sad that it takes something like this to bring people together.

Resident Kimberly Bowman, who helped to organize the balloon release through the Jessica Ridgeway Facebook memorial page she created, said the outpouring of support that she and other volunteers received was amazing.

“The people of Arvada and Westminster are incredible, and I knew they would rally,” Bowman said. “Though I had never met Jessica, she has strengthened me in ways that I could have ever imagined, and that is something that I will always hold with me.”