ORLANDO, Fla. _ The Orlando shooting at Pulse Nightclub on June 12 will be memorialized with an "iconic, meaningful, national" memorial and eventually a museum, where Orlando's millions of visitors will learn about the club, the tragedy and the victims.
Leaders of the not-for-profit onePULSE Foundation officially launched the effort to build the memorial Thursday morning.
"Today, I'm able to share with you what I believe is news that will help in our mission of healing," nightclub owner Barbara Poma, who is executive director and CEO of the foundation, said. "It isn't easy for me to stand on this site. What began as a place for fun and joy is now sacred ground."
The effort will be led by a board of trustees including Disney World president George Kalogridis, Jason Felts, CEO of Virgin Produced, and entertainer Lance Bass. The board will be led by Orlando attorney Earl Crittenden, of GrayRobinson.
Poma made it clear that the process for designing and shaping the memorial is just beginning. The foundation launched a new website with videos explaining the memorial planning process, with a pitch by Andy Cohen, the first openly gay host of an American late-night talk show. The website will also gather feedback regarding memorial options at some point.
"This memorial will be designed as a place to grieve, to honor lives lost and saved, as well as to serve as a place to heal and learn," Cohen said in the video message.
Although some had talked about reopening the club, that is not what the memorial will be, according to Felts.
"This project is not about replacing a building or a fun hangout for the gay community," Felts said at the announcement. "This project is about healing central Florida, the GLBT community, the Latino community."
The memorial and eventual museum will mark the site where 49 people were murdered and dozens more injured on June 12 in the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. The entire area around Pulse was a crime scene for a week after the attack. But when the street reopened, the vacant black building quickly became a magnet for grief, vigils, flowers, artwork and impromptu memorials. Even now, more than 10 months later, people still visit daily.
The announcement took place just outside the dark, boarded-up structure. Volunteers dressed as angels stood around the parking lot. Visitors were wanded as they entered. A choral group sang songs such as "Over the Rainbow" and "Bridge over Troubled Water."
Poma said the board of directors will ultimately decide what happens to the property, including whether the current building is demolished or not. She said the foundation is prepared for disagreements and difficulty in the planning process.
The building is a painful reminder to some who were there that night, like India Godman of Orlando. She stood just outside the fence after the announcement Thursday. She recalled being so close to the flying bullets that she tasted gunpowder.
"This is a second home. It's a very emotional moment," Godman said. "I'm very grateful for where we are today. It's a bittersweet feeling because we sympathize with the victims families." Godman said she thought the building should be demolished because it is a reminder of the horror that occurred there.
"Reconstruct it and do something completely different, so that it doesn't show. ... I would say keep the sign and tear down the building," Godman said.
Poma has been saying she wants a memorial at the site since the day after the shooting. In recent months, she has been traveling to the sites of other mass shooting memorials with Miami artist Jefre Manuel. On Thursday, Manuel was identified as the designer of the Pulse memorial, who leads the design committee. He has posted photos on social media of he and Poma at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City.
At one point last year, Poma had decided to sell the building to the city, but she changed her mind and launched the private foundation instead. The LGBT nightclub has been closed since the massacre.
Poma previously announced that the anniversary will include two events on the nightclub property, as part of Orlando United Day. That will include a midday ceremony featuring community speakers and music, and another gathering from 10 p.m. to midnight.
The foundation has been raising money, intended to support construction and maintenance of a memorial, community grants to care for the survivors and victims' families, endowed scholarships for each of the 49 and "ultimately a museum showcasing historic artifacts and stories from the event."
Poma has said she founded the 12-year-old nightclub in memory of her brother John, who died of HIV/AIDS.
.jpg?w=600)
