MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) — Family, friends and colleagues of eight workers who were killed at a Manchester beer distributor have marked the anniversary of the shootings by dedicating memorials.

Eight steel pillars were dedicated Wednesday at Hartford Distributors in memory of the men, who died in what police call the worst mass shooting in Connecticut history.

A company driver, Omar Thornton, had just been fired for stealing beer when he killed the eight co-workers, wounded two others and fatally shot himself on Aug. 3, 2010.

The memorial dedication Wednesday also drew U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and other officials.

Ross Hollander, a member of the family that owns the company, said that he still asks every day why the tragedy occurred.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.