CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. _ They held candles to remember the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas and pledged to do what they could to try to prevent another tragedy.
Rain occasionally poured down on the vigil at Betti Stradling Park in Coral Springs Monday evening, with one rabbi saying, "God is crying with us."
Local elected officials voiced grief and anger during the event, one of several statewide sponsored by the Florida PTA. They repeated the phrase "never again," which has been a hashtag used by Stoneman Douglas High students to demand stricter gun control measures.
"We need to take our grief, anger and sadness and channel that into action," Coral Springs Commissioner Dan Daley said. "This was one of one of the worst mass shootings in our nation's history, but we can make this the last mass shooting in our nation's history."
School Board member Robin Bartleman said she had hope that these students will be able to persuade lawmakers to make changes.
"Unfortunately, the adults who represent us on the state and national level have not gotten the job done," she said. "But these students, they're going to get it done."
Bartleman fought back tears as she told stories of teachers and staff members who kept students safe in their classrooms and saved lives. She said that earlier in the day she had attended the funeral of student Carmen Schentrup, 16, the daughter of Pembroke Pines Elementary Principal April Schentrup.
"While April was taking care of other people's kids, this tragedy was going on," Bartleman said.
Cindy Gerhardt, president of the Florida PTA, said she's heartbroken when she thinks of how this affected students, teachers and parents at the school.
"We can't imagine what it is like to send our babies off to school trusting they will be learning, laughing, dreaming and never see them again," said Gerhardt, who traveled from Escambia County to attend the vigil. "We can't imagine the fear felt when a teacher realizes that the commotion they are hearing is not a drill. ... We can't imagine what happens to a student's pulse when they realize those strange pops in the hallways are the sounds of gunfire."
She said that "while our minds are struggling to find answers, our determination is stronger than ever" to prevent a similar tragedy.
Earlier in the day, mourners packed the closed school campus to pay their respects.
They put flowers, stuffed animals, candles and messages of "Never Again" alongside victim memorials shaped like crosses or the Star of David.
"I really wanted to see the memorial," said Gabriel Ocejo, 17, a senior at the school. "When something like this happens, it unites the community."
Rashida Blair, 16, wanted to go to Stoneman Douglas because she heard it was one of the best schools in the area. But her mom decided the teen should attend her assigned school, Coral Glades High in Coral Springs.
"It could have been me. This is where I wanted to go," said Blair, who with her mom, Suzette, made flags with each victim's name on it.
They placed the flags on their memorial sites.
"If it were my daughter, I would like someone to do the same for her," Suzette Blair said.
Joanne Wallace, who teaches special needs students at Stoneman Douglas, said she knew a lot of students would be there Monday so she wanted to show up to support them. She wrote a message with chalk on a guard rail near the school on Coral Springs Road: "Love Wins. MSD Strong."
She hopes people who drive by will find comfort if they see it.
"I want to give strength to anyone who is feeling hurt, and I want people to know that love wins over hate," she said.
Alejandro Guerrero, 16, a junior at North Broward Preparatory School in nearby Coconut Creek, brought small candles, which he placed on top of each memorial site. He said the candles represent light.
"They're still bright people and their light still shines," said Guerrero, who knew Joaquin Oliver, one of the students who died. "A lot of people are planning for change because of them. I want to remember them not as victims but as of agents of change."
