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Pulse Remembered
PULSE REMEMBERED
Five-Year Remembrance Week held by onePULSE Foundation in honor of the 49 Angels, Pulse survivors and rst responders.
BY SCOTT BOWMAN
Five years have passed since the senseless shooting of 49 people at Pulse LGBTQ+ nightclub on June 12, 2016, where 68 others were also injured but survived. This tragedy is part of our community’s history, part of our nation’s history and part of world history. At the time of the attack at Pulse, it was the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, second only to 9/11. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. The victims were largely members of LGBTQ+ and Latino communities in Florida.
onePULSE Foundation is a non-for-pro t established shortly after the tragedy to honor and preserve the legacy of those killed, as well as creating a sanctuary of hope. In addition to plans for a museum, memorial, survivors walk, an educational series, and an annual scholarship fund, onePULSE Foundation organized a lengthy list of community-wide activities held during the Five-Year Remembrance Week that took place from Saturday, June 5 to Saturday, June 12, 2021.
An Evening of Reflection and Promise took place at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 7 at the Dr. Phillips Center Frontyard FestivalTM. One Orlando Alliance hosted this interfaith opportunity to name the effects of the religiously based discrimination on the LGBTQ+ community and create pathways for healing. The program featured a panel of LGBTQ+ people of diverse faith and thought backgrounds, sharing their personal experiences, music from the Orlando Gay Chorus, remarks from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and other local leaders, as well as representation from a variety of local faith leaders.
A BBQ was held by onePULSE Foundation to honor Pulse First Responders on Friday, June 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Varsity Club at Camping World Stadium and was sponsored by Sonny’s BBQ.
PHOTOS BY BRIGITH DAVILA, ANTHONY CONSTANTINE
Two dinners were held by onePULSE Foundation at First United Methodist Church of Orlando during the week. On Friday, June 11, the dinner was for Pulse Survivors, and was sponsored by Noodles and Company. On Saturday, June 12, the dinner was for family members of the 49 Angels, and was sponsored by Darden Restaurants. It was an opportunity for families to gather together before attending the Remembrance Ceremony.
The Five-Year Pulse Remembrance Ceremony was held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 12 at the Pulse Interim Memorial with live streaming open to the general public at the Dr. Phillips Center Frontyard
FestivalTM. The observance brought together the families of those whose lives were tragically taken and provided them a space to remember their loved ones in peace. onePULSE Foundation also honored all who survived, the brave first responders and the trauma teams who sacrificed so much to save so many. Speakers included Earl Crittenden, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings, Barbara Poma, Brandon Wolf, Deputy Chief James Young, and Neema Bahrami. Family members of the 49 Angels participated in the Reading of the Names and Jabari Clay and Yaire performed.
