ORLANDO, Fla. — "MSD, we stand with you today and all the days of your healing journey."
- Pulse terror attack, Parkland shooting have tragic bond
- Names of Parkland victims read during Pulse ceremony Thursday
- RELATED:
That was the message by Pulse owner Barbara Poma at the Pulse interim memorial in Orlando on Thursday. Pulse survivors, first responders, and community members came together to show support for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in a small remembrance ceremony.
The onePulse Foundation read the Parkland victims' names during a ceremony at 2:15 p.m. At 2:21 p.m. — the time gunfire erupted at the school one year ago — they held a moment of silence.
It's a unique, but tragic, bond between Pulse and Parkland: survivors have called for an end to gun violence, but on this somber anniversary, the focus was on remembering the victims and offering messages of comfort.
"I said I have to be here. There is no way I cannot be here at all," India Godman said. The Pulse survivor did not feel well Thursday morning but still pulled herself out of bed to come and show her support.
"All support coming from anywhere is always appreciated," she said.
There were 17 ribbons tied around trees at the Pulse memorial. The ribbons, with the school colors of burgundy and silver, bore the name of each of the victims.
Matt MacDougall came to Pulse, too, with a friend. MacDougall is originally from Broward County and said he just had to stop by to pay his respects.
"Yeah it’s hard. You get choked up," MacDougall said. "You see little things that you remember or remind you of somebody you know or knew."
Natasha McIlmurray, an MSD graduate, also wouldn’t have been anywhere else.
“I knew Coach (Aaron) Feis. He was a football coach, and I was a cheerleader there," McIlmurray said.
A mile and a half down the road, the First United Methodist Church planned to ring the bell 17 times for the 17 victims.
"The one year mark is an interesting spot to be in," said Nikole Parker, the onePulse Foundation's event and community outreach coordinator. "I remember our one year mark, and it's kind of hard to believe a year had passed already, and sometimes with all the things going on in the world it gets swept under the rug. We just want to make sure that the world always remembers Parkland, Pulse and all the other tragedies."
The onePulse foundation also had visitors sign a banner that will be sent to Parkland on Friday.
Today "isn’t a holiday just for couples, it is a day to love all," Poma said.
