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Patty Sheehan faced significant challenges in her quest to establish a memorial for the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, which resulted in the loss of 49 lives. There were moments when she questioned whether such a monument would ever manifest, particularly during a period when proposals for a museum included aspects like a gift shop and merchandise sales, which Sheehan found deeply troubling.
“I was incredibly distressed,” Sheehan recounted, criticizing the initial plans by the onePulse Foundation, led by Pulse owners Barbara and Rosario Poma, for emphasizing tourist attractions rather than focusing solely on a memorial for the victims.
As a result of these missteps and financial mismanagement, the foundation struggled with deficits and ultimately collapsed in 2023 after expending millions in donations, leaving the memorial still unrealized.
However, the trajectory has finally shifted. Recently, the City of Orlando initiated efforts to procure the nightclub’s site and established a new committee to expedite the memorial’s development, which will include a reflection pool and healing garden on the original nightclub’s footprint.
The city aims to break ground by the 10th anniversary of the shootings next year. Funding has been partially secured, with a commitment of $7.5 million from the city and an appeal to the Orange County Commission for an additional $5 million, which County Mayor Jerry Demings has indicated he supports. Additionally, a formal request for design and construction proposals has been issued, with the expectation that the memorial will be completed by the end of 2027.
Sheehan, who made history as the first openly gay elected official in Central Florida, expressed her eagerness for the memorial’s completion. She played a vital role in creating an interim memorial immediately after the tragedy and never envisioned that it, along with the nightclub building, would still be present nearly nine years later. “It was intended to serve for a short time, yet it has remained and is deteriorating,” she noted.
Sheehan emphasized that many survivors and families of the victims are seeking closure, hoping the completion of a memorial will provide them with a renewed sense of peace. “I believe they are looking forward to moving on,” she said. “There’s a sense of anticipation for a resolution, especially once the nightclub building is removed.”
Following her resignation from onePulse when it became apparent that the organization was stumbling, Sheehan collaborated with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and other officials to forge a new path. Last year, Dyer announced the hiring of Dr. Larry Schooler, a consultant skilled in memorial facilitation, to guide the process, drawing insights from community members, survivors, and design professionals.
With contributions from the Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee—comprising victims’ families, survivors, community leaders, and design experts—the committee completed its mission and presented plans for the memorial, including a reflection pool at the site of the club’s dance floor and a tribute to each of the 49 victims along an elliptical pathway.
“The committee was made up of community representatives, and their input was crucial in shaping the memorial’s vision,” Sheehan explained. She acknowledged the challenges of creating a respectful space, particularly given her personal conviction that the nightclub building needed to be removed, as it symbolized a wound within the community.
While some families remain dissatisfied, Sheehan remains hopeful that the majority of the Pulse community will find solace and unity in the new memorial. She contrasted the ambitious yet ultimately fruitless efforts of the onePulse Foundation with the current project, which promises to deliver a heartfelt tribute rather than a commercialized museum.
This memorial’s inauguration is expected to mark a significant milestone not only for the victims and their families but also for Sheehan, who anticipates it might be the culmination of her long tenure in local politics, a journey that has intertwined with the city’s healing process after the tragedy.
Reflecting on the unity and love demonstrated globally in the aftermath of the shooting, Sheehan stated, “It was a universal loss, and numerous landmarks worldwide illuminated in rainbow colors to honor us, showcasing the beauty in our shared grief and love.” She expressed her hope for the memorial to become a serene space of reflection, welcoming all who seek to remember and honor those who were lost.
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www.theguardian.com