Tribute items from the temporary Pulse memorial sites that sprang up at several public spots around Orlando in the days after the shootings will be collected and preserved, the city said Friday.
- Large tribute memorials erected around the city in wake of attack
- City of Orlando wants to preserve some of these items
Large memorials of flowers, candles, pictures and messages to honor the victims and their families have grown at City Hall, Lake Eola Park, Lake Beauty at Orlando Health and the front lawn of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, where President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden left white roses during a visit to Orlando in the days after the attack.
The city wants to collect some of the nonperishable tribute items for future generations to remember, it said.
On Friday, Orange County Regional History Center staff was to collect and bring some of the Lake Eola Park items to the History Center. The city will move all other tribute items to the temporary memorial site at the Performing Arts Center by Monday, June 27. This is also being done to make way for Fourth of July activities and fireworks at Lake Eola Park.
Other memorial items will be collected regularly by History Center staff from the different temporary memorial sites for long-term preservation at the History Center. Flowers will be collected regularly and organically turned into soil to be used in gardens throughout the city, it said.