On Dec. 12, Orange County Government and the City of Orlando hosted a Pulse Six-Month Remembrance Ceremony to honor the 49 victims, their families and 68 wounded in the Pulse nightclub tragedy, which occurred June 12.<\/p>\n
Survivors and the family and friends of victims were joined by community leaders and elected officials at the gathering, held at twilight on the plaza surrounding Orange County\u2019s Regional History Center. The ceremony featured remarks by Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, City of Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan, Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma, Jennifer Foster and Carlos Carbonell from the LGBTQ Alliance as well as special performances by the Orlando Gay Chorus and acclaimed singer-songwriter Sisaundra Lewis from \u201cThe Voice.\u201d GLBT Center Executive Director Terry DeCarlo emceed the ceremony.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout the past six months, our community has come together in unity like never before, especially in support of the victims\u2019 families, those who survived, and the first and second responders who were there when tragedy struck,\u201d Mayor Jacobs said. \u201cThe outpouring of love shown through memorials, events and other public displays locally and around the globe has been incredible, serving as a source of comfort and remembrance for many.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event also featured the debut of a digital gallery featuring thousands of photos, including archival photos from the Orange County Regional History Center, numerous images by Orange County Government Photographer Frank Weber \u2013 on-scene for virtually all Pulse activities and events \u2013 and countless photos from citizens, Pulse victim families and friends, and others that capture the various memorials, vigils and ceremonies that occurred across the region in the days and weeks following the tragedy. The digital gallery is free and open to the public during the Orange County Regional History Center\u2019s regular operating hours.<\/p>\n
As part of the One Orlando Collection Initiative<\/a>, the History Center also presented the One Orlando Digital Memorial<\/a>, which will serve as an online collection for all of the memorial items and events surrounding Pulse. The gallery will highlight images of individual items collected at the memorial sites and their current state in preservation, as well as the community artwork and international support that was received.<\/p>\n \u201cThe memories captured in the gallery remind us all that our strength and unity have not diminished. We continue to show the world that we are a community that refuses to be divided,\u201d Mayor Jacobs added. \u201cWe stand together, in love and support of one another and we are telling the world that enough is enough, and that hate will not triumph here.\u201d<\/p>\n Orange County Government and its Regional History Center established the One Orlando Collection Initiative in partnership with the City of Orlando and numerous community stakeholders and partners, including the Historical Society of Central Florida, in order to preserve history and properly care for the many thousands of tribute items created in response to the tragic loss of life that occurred at Pulse.<\/p>\n The One Orlando Collection Initiative has been working collaboratively with all local, regional and impacted individuals, institutions and agencies toward the goal of expanding our shared understanding of these defining events and their continuing legacies. Since its inception, the Orange County Regional History Center has collected more than 5,000 items and has been the repository for the physical and digital memory of the Pulse nightclub tragedy.<\/p>\n The Pulse nightclub tragedy is considered the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history; and the deadliest terrorist attack in the nation since September 11, 2001. The Central Florida community will continue to stand strong and united. To view photos from the Pulse Remembrance Ceremony<\/a>, visit Mayor Jacobs\u2019 Flickr album<\/p>\n