LIVE VIDEO — Gov. Scott Walker, Rep. Paul Ryan and Attorney General Eric Holder attend a memorial service for those who died in last week's mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.
By Becky Bratu, NBC News
As prayer, music and chanting filled the building, hundreds streamed into an Oak Creek, Wis., gymnasium Friday morning to pay their final respects to the woman and five men killed in Sunday's rampage.
Non-Sikhs wearing kerchiefs on their heads and Sikhs alike marched together in neat rows, with some of them stopping at times to embrace one another and exchange a few words. A priest spoke and recited prayers in the native Indian Punjabi.
In a tradition to honor the dead, priests will begin a process known as Akhand Path, a reading of the entire Sikh holy book, which is expected to take about 48 hours, the BBC reported.
"We want to pay homage to the spirits who are still in there," Harpreet Singh, the nephew of one of the victims, told the BBC.
As visitors -- including several police officers -- moved toward the seats, passing six caskets, a projection screen showed photos of those killed after a gunman opened fire at the Oak Creek Sikh temple.
"Today we mourn with you, we pray with you and we support you,” Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told those gathered.
Walker praised the Sikhs' "peaceful faith" and their reaction following the shootings, saying they had shown that the best way to respond to the violence is with love.
"No matter what country your ancestors come from, no matter where you worship, no matter where you’re from, as Americans, we are one,” he said.
On Thursday, Sikhs were allowed to return to their temple for the first time since the shootings. Members have spent the last day painting walls and replacing blood-stained carpet. After the memorial service in the gymnasium, they plan to return to the temple.
Sikh leaders allowed to return to temple four days after shooting
Religious leaders and parishioners keep searching for answers following the Sunday tragedy. FBI Special Agent in Charge Teresa Carlson said during a Wednesday news conference that investigators have not yet "clearly defined a motive."
Wade Michael Page was identified Monday by authorities as the sole shooter at the temple. Authorities said the 40-year-old former Army sergeant entered the gurdwara armed with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. The FBI said Page died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after he was shot by police.
The temple's leader told NBCChicago.com he hopes Indian-owned businesses around the world will close Friday in the victims' memory.
U.S. Attorney Eric Holder is scheduled to speak at the memorial service. Congressman Paul Ryan is also expected to attend.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NBC News
A memorial service for six worshipers killed in the shooting at a Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee was under way at a local high school Friday, Aug. 10, 2012.
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