Photo: City of Perry Facebook Post
(Perry, Iowa) -- A memorial honoring Ahmir Joliff, a sixth-grade student who was killed in the 2024 Perry High School shooting, will be unveiled Monday afternoon at Weise Park.
The tribute includes a bench and an oak tree placed near a soccer field where Ahmir often played. The bench bears the inscription, “You’ve got a friend in me,” a phrase that school officials say perfectly captures his kind and friendly spirit.
“He was known for his wonderful smile and was a great friend to all the students he was with,” said Perry Middle School Principal Ned Menke. “I had the opportunity to be his principal when I started as an elementary administrator in Perry, so I saw him grow up. We miss him.”
Ahmir was one of three people who died in the January 2024 shooting, including Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, who was killed while protecting students. The shooter also died during the incident.
Menke said the memorial has been in the works for some time and reflects Ahmir’s personality and interests.
“It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a long time—it just took time to put together,” he said. “The oak tree symbolizes strength, and Ahmir was certainly a strong kid.”
The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday at Weise Park in Perry.