Survivors and family members weigh in on Pulse memorial

ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando’s Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee convened for the third time on Wednesday.

The 18-member committee consists of victim’s families, survivors and other stakeholders who will come up with a plan to create a permanent memorial to honor the lives of the 49 Pulse Nightclub shooting victims.

Wednesday’s meeting was an opportunity to hear more from survivors and family members who aren’t on the committee.

While some tuned in virtually, others took a seat at the table alongside committee members and the lead facilitator of the project, Dr. Larry Schooler.

To help facilitate the process for Spanish speaking mothers who attended the meeting virtually, Schooler introduced facilitator and mediator, Rafael Montalvo, to assist as a translator for those who aren’t on the committee and who want to have their say in the discussion.

As discussions over the future of the permanent Pulse memorial continue, the priority during Wednesday night’s committee meeting was to give survivors and family members who lost a loved one a voice.

Among those survivors was Stephanie Kersten, who Schooler invited to take a seat at the table alongside committee members.

“As a survivor, I still feel so guilty every day. So I agree with the process should be mainly in the hands of the angel’s families. I love being able to have a say as a survivor, but in the end, we were not the ones that were lost,” Kersten said, as she wiped tears from her face.

Even though Kersten doesn’t sit on the committee, she was invited to share her input and provide suggestions for the permanent memorial.

So was Robert Pressley. 

“For several years, I sat back and let people do what I should’ve been doing, which is advocate for my mom because she’s not here. I’m not here to take anything away from any survivor. My brother’s a survivor and I know he goes through it all the time,” Pressley said.

Pressley’s mother Brenda was killed, and his brother Isaiah was injured in the shooting. 

Now, he’s taking part in the discussion so he and others can have a place to celebrate the lives of their loved ones and make the memorial a place of collective healing.

Kersten said what she wants is “to make this place all what it was about was for others to be happy to feel like themselves and to love one another.”

Survivors, family members and committee members all provided input on two main talking points surrounding the future of the Pulse building and whether first responders who were there that night should also get included in the memorial. 

Most agreed that the building should be demolished, and first responders should not be included.

Family member of a survivor and committee member, Carlitos Diaz Rodriguez said, “I personally think that we should not keep the building. It’s super triggering for community members and families, it’s not a secret.”

Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee members gathered for their third meeting on Aug. 21 to hear from survivors and family members who are not on the committee. (Spectrum News/Sasha Teman)

There were two main concerns that came to light during the meeting.

The first entailed a need to have a timeline so that survivors and loved ones can “start the healing process,” as was described by Kersten.

The second concern most community members agreed on was a need for a budget for the project.

However, Diaz Rodriguez said he is confident the city will find the funding to build the memorial. He is more concerned about how long the project will take.

“I’m more concerned about the timeline because I’m hearing the families say, ‘Hello it’s been 8 years. We’ve been waiting for so long.’ And now thinking about that again, we’re kind of like starting from zero with these conversations,” he said.

Schooler said the committee can discuss what will happen to the building during the September meetings set for Wednesday, Sept. 25, and Thursday, Sept. 26.

The 4th Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee Meeting will take place at Orlando City Hall on Thursday, Aug. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m.