ORLANDO, Fla. — Just days after opening applications, Orlando officials say they've already received 32 forms from individuals hoping to join the Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee. The committee will consist of 10-15 members who will help spearhead ideas on what's next for a permanent memorial.

What You Need To Know

  • Orlando officials say they've already received 32 forms from individuals hoping to join the Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee

  • The 10-15 member group will help determine the future of what the memorial will look like

  • Jorshua Hernandez, a survivor of the Pulse nightclub shooting, says they were one of the applicants, saying, "I'm a part of this tragedy. I have the real story"

Even though it’s been eight years, scars — both mental and physical — remain for Jorshua Hernandez, who was shot on June 12, 2016 at the Pulse nightclub. Hernandez says he was one of many who had locked themselves in the bathroom.

But since then, it’s been a waiting game for survivors like Hernandez and victims' families for a permanent memorial. The interim memorial located at the Pulse nightclub site is showing signs of wear. The interim memorial was never supposed to be around this long.

Instead, the onePULSE Foundation made promises to build a permanent memorial following the shooting. However, that permanent memorial never came as onePULSE dissolved last year, despite years of donations collected by the nonprofit.

“Where does the money go? What did they do with the money?” Hernandez said.

The city of Orlando opted to buy the location, vowing to head up memorial plans themselves.

On Friday, city officials announced they will be making a Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee. The 10-15 member group will help determine the future of what the memorial will look like. Applications are now open at pulseorlando.org, and Hernandez said he already applied.

“I would like to be on the committee,” he said. “Because I’m part of this tragedy. I have the real story.”

Orlando officials say they are working to make sure the committee, as well as all other outside input, is as accessible as possible to Spanish speakers.

But after so many years of back and forth, numerous meetings and talks about memorial plans, people like Hernandez can’t help but feel on guard with their hopes.

Hernandez said he wishes he could see a memorial break ground now, instead of waiting like he did so many years before. Though, even after so much time waiting, the trauma from the events on June 12, 2016, still feels the same as it did then.

“Eight years (feels) like yesterday,” he said.