Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee seeks public input at second meeting, open house
ORLANDO, Fla. - A permanent Pulse Nightclub memorial is moving closer to reality as the Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee continued its discussions at the Kia Center on Thursday.
It marked the second meeting of the panel and the first opportunity for public input.
Only a few people spoke during the public comment period. The open house that followed was more casual in nature and aimed to encourage more public participation.
About 20 people attended in person, while others checked in online. Attendees were given sticky notes to write down their ideas. One participant suggested tearing down the nightclub, while another proposed creating a "tranquil park." The common theme was that the memorial should be a symbol of healing.
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Helen Bostok, one of the attendees, said, "I don't want to see a huge memorial. It's not the quantity of the memorial; it's the quality. If you keep the building and add on to it, I think you would get something like that."
Michael Hallberg, another attendee, added, "I would like to see a great deal of inclusion. I would like to see solemnity and for it to be a rallying point for various peoples and cultures."
The 18-member committee delved deeper into what the memorial should include, drawing inspiration from other memorials nationwide.