- April 24, 2024
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Adrian, 16, carried an LGBTQ flag near the head of the march across the bridge. Brittany Musselman, 15, is at right.
Nyla King, 13; Aria King, 14; and Ashley Kassan, 14
Alexis Musselman, 22
Eryn Harris, 18
Toniann Musselman, 19
Jessica Crowhover, 27 and Eli Adams, 4
Shoshanah Mercado and Abbey Cooke
Vange Durst
Laef Bowling, 44
The Rev. Robert P. Goolsby of St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Flagler County residents honored the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting with a march across the Flagler Beach State Road 100 bridge and a vigil at Veterans Park on Saturday, June 12.
"It's important in a small community that we are visible and strong, and most of all remember the horrible tragedy that occurred," said resident Laef Bowling.
The remembrance event Saturday was the second time Flagler County residents have come together in large numbers to honor the memory of the 49 people killed at the gay Orlando nightclub: The community also did so five years ago just days after the shooting, in a vigil that had been hastily planned but nevertheless drew hundreds, becoming the county's first major LGBTQ gathering.
A number of local attendees at the 2016 remembrance event had been to the Pulse nightclub and knew people who died in the shooting.
For the June 12 march, participants festooned in the rainbow colors of the gay pride flag gathered at Wadsworth Park at 7 p.m. and walked across the bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway to Veterans Park in Flagler Beach, where there were guest speeches and a recitation of the names of the victims. Attendees listened to a rendition by local musician Chris Gollon of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," and danced to musical performances by Vange Durst.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church Rev. Robert P. Goolsby led attendees in prayer.
"We are here to remember what happened five years ago so we never forget," Goolsby said.
— Jonathan Simmons contributed to this story.
