In a solemn event Tuesday, 49 handmade, white wooden crosses, representing the 49 victims of the Pulse attack, were removed from outside of Orlando Regional Medical Center and moved to the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando. 

  • 49 wooden crosses are used to represent the victims who died in the terror shooting
  • For many, the hate crime feels like it was just yesterday

The ceremony marked one month since the early morning massacre on June 12.

Staff members and volunteers will keep the crosses safe until they’re ready to be displayed as a part of permanent memorial.

Laly Santiago-Leon attended the ceremony to remember her cousin Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon and his partner, Jean.

“I wanted to be part of this, to see that Dani and Jean were together," said Santiago-Leon.

Each cross bears the name of a victim. 

“It’s been a month and today was just one of those days. It’s been a difficult time and I wanted to be in the spirit of community and family," added Santiago-Leon.

It was also a moving display for community leaders.

“When you are a parent, it’s like every one of these kids is yours. They could be and in some ways they are," shared Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

The One Orlando Collection Initiative is tasked with documenting the impact and legacy of the Pulse tragedy.

“We collect history, good and bad," said Jeff Jakubik, who serves as the board president for the Historical Society of Central Florida.

"A 100 percent commitment that everyone who is touched by this will be involved in how the History Center permanently remembers this moment in time," Mayor Jacobs said.

Santiago-Leon says that memorial can’t come soon enough.

“It’s very important. I believe that our community and our world needs to continue learning and keep hearing their stories," Santiago-Leon explained.

Local leaders say it’s still too early to make any decision on a permanent memorial but they’re dedicated to collecting items for any future Pulse memorials.

“It’s also about making sure that what we do with this moment in time, projects positively into the future,” Jacobs said. “That we take this horrendous, horrific act of hatred and we respond to it, with such a compelling sense of unity and love that we change the future, right here in this moment in time.”

A month may have passed, but for many, like Jordan Morrissey, the victims will not be soon forgotten.

“If you knew somebody like I did, you try to just remember the better memories, you don’t want to think about that night and that sum up your relationship with them,” said Morrissey, who lost two friends in the shooting.

Makeshift memorials for the victims continue to grow, especially in front of the nightclub.

“I can’t believe it has been a month already, it was so tragic, it feels like it was just yesterday,” said Martinez.

Families, survivors, gather at Pulse memorials

Family members of the victims were invited to a candlelight vigil outside the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando Tuesday.

Forty-nine wooden crosses made by an Illinois artist were displayed there for the last time before being made into a permanent memorial.

Earlier, people gathered outside of Pulse, like Orlando Torres, who is still wearing the hospital bracelet from the night of the tragedy. 

Torres says he was trapped inside during the massacre on June 12 and made a special visit Monday night. 

“I brought my friend that I was with in the bathroom stall that night. We spent three hours with the gunman,” he said.

While people gathered outside of Pulse, others, like Ana Bateman, visited the memorial at the Dr. Phillips Center. 

“It’s hard to want to celebrate something but we have to celebrate the fact that this city has come together,” she said.

Organizers say the memorial at the Dr. Phillips Center will be moved at the end of the month and will also eventually be on display with the crosses at the History Center.


Many, like these people here, pack up the crosses so they can be moved. (Vincent Earley, Staff)