AUSTIN—The University of Texas commemorated the 50-year anniversary of its mass shooting from the iconic tower on campus on Monday.

The UT bell tower tolled its chimes for each of the lives lost in the shooting, and officials rededicated an existing monument in a memorial service.

"[The victims] don't need this monument to remind them of what they continue to endure each day. But the rest of us really do," said Congressman Lloyd Doggett. 

Doggett was among a number of notable speakers who made remarks during a ceremony that touched on the differences in how tragedies were handled during the time of the mass shooting.   

"Fifty years ago society responded to violent tragedy differently. Healing was thought to occur when we moved on," said UT Austin President​ Gregory Fenves.  

SPECIAL REPORT - UT Tower Shooting: 50 Years Later

It is a grieving process that differed between survivors. 

"Some of us have done what we've done by acting, some by thinking and speaking, and some by coming today," said shooting survivor Claire Wilson James​. 

The day brought together many survivors of the shooting, including Forrest Preece who helped organized the memorial. 

"We had no idea of the gravity of the situation, so we just went outside and stood there like little clay pigeons. A bullet came past my right ear and it hit a man named Harry Walchuk,” said Preece

For Preece, Monday was a chance to connect with a piece of what was lost as he met with Walchuk​'s son after the ceremony. Preece said he originally reached out to Christopher Walchuk 15 years before, and was excited to finally meet him in person. 

"Hearing from Forrest was quite remarkable," Christopher said, "It's a bittersweet thing."   

Continuing Coverage: