Orlando Shooting Update: Permanent Memorial Planned To Honor Pulse Nightclub Victims
According to a recent Orlando shooting update, a permanent memorial is in the works to honor all 49 Pulse nightclub shooting victims.
In an interview with WESH 2 News, Mayor Buddy Dyer explained his intent to create a permanent remembrance to those who lost their lives on June 12. Seemingly, Dyer is the right man for the job. Why? Since his election in 2003, the mayor previously received credit for the construction of an arts center and more than one stadium in the area.
“We’re going to do something world-class to memorialize the victims here.”
The mayor had the extremely sad task of giving Orlando and the world frequent shooting updates, as the horrific news unfolded. The morning of the Pulse nightclub massacre, he updated the casualty count from 20 to 50. At the time, he said he thought it was more important for him to inform the public of the severity of the tragedy, as opposed to an FBI announcement. When all was said and done, the official death toll was 49, not 50.
Orlando plans memorial for Pulse mass shooting victims https://t.co/Xo3b8lnKf5
— TIME.com (@TIME) June 25, 2016
The Pulse nightclub shooting has the unfortunate distinction of being the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Since that day, there have been literally thousands of memorials and vigils taking place around the globe. A permanent Orlando memorial will certainly help the city heal. But, more importantly, it will help to ensure that each one of the 49 victims will never be forgotten.
WESH 2 News also reported the fact that a great many of the thousands of notes, letters, signs, and mementos, left after the Orlando shooting, are being collected together and will be preserved at the Orange County Regional History Center. The majority of these items were placed at Lake Eola Park.
This removal and collection process is taking place in order to prepare the park for the upcoming Independence Day festivities.
According to CBS Miami Local, a committee will be chosen to oversee the process of establishing the permanent memorial. The city of Orlando promises to be “open and transparent,” every step of the way. The committee will wholeheartedly consider input from both the victim’s families and the community. Currently, no date or location for the memorial’s dedication is available. As reported by Orlando Weekly, Mayor Dyer recently stated “this process will take time and should not be rushed.”
On this #NYCPride Parade Sunday: the memorial for the Orlando victims, in NYC’s new Stonewall National Monument…. pic.twitter.com/lNIeIy3NvA
— Josh Elliott (@JoshElliott32) June 26, 2016
In addition to the preservation of items collected around the city, flowers from the memorial sites will be collected at regular intervals. These flowers will be turned into garden soil, which will be used in various locations around the city.
Newsday indicated that there is also going to be a permanent Orlando shooting memorial erected in Manhattan. At today’s Pride March, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo shared the news with the crowd. He promised the state would spend up to $1 million on the project. Three locations are currently being considered for the site for the memorial. They include Hudson River Park, Battery Park, or Christopher Park. All of these spots are within gazing distance of the Statue of Liberty.
Since the original announcement and the many Orlando shooting updates, have you participated in any memorial services or vigils? What are your thoughts, regarding the plans for a permanent memorial honoring the Pulse nightclub victims? Feel free to leave feedback below.
[Photo by David Goldman/AP Images]
