PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – One year after a gunman opened fire at Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus, killing two people and injuring several others, students at FSU Panama City gathered to remember those impacted by the tragedy.
Students, faculty and staff held a candlelight vigil to honor the lives lost and show support for a community still healing.
“For this pray vigil it’s really just to show community support and remember that we are together and it’s really important to have community no matter where especially between campuses for FSU students and we just need to hold on to that,” said Bryanna Morgan, intramurals and rec coordinator with student affairs.
Flowers were placed at the FSU letters as students prayed, reflected and remembered. Many said the tragedy hit close to home.
“To me personally, it’s really important because i have friends at the Tallahassee campus… even coworkers who were in that building directly affected. I was very scared for all of my friends and all my coworkers,” Morgan said.
For some, the fear of that day has not faded.
“I remember sitting in my apartment and I remember receiving the same alerts Tallahassee was receiving and we didn’t know what was going on because we were under the same information they were, and it was scary I have a lot of friends and even some family that go to that campus so I remember worrying about them trying to get in contact with their parents and seeing if they were okay,” said Elyza Biondi, student government council programming chair.
Irvin Clark, associate dean of students and strategic initiatives at FSU Panama City, said the vigil showed the strength of the Seminole community.
“That resiliency we are a very resilient university, and we too shall move forward and even though we are going to move forward we will never forget. Unconquered and we have that unconquered spirit as Florida state university seminoles,” Clark said.
Organizers said the vigil was about more than remembering. It was about standing together and making sure those impacted are never forgotten.
Students said they hope to carry this remembrance forward in the years to come. FSU is reminding students that support resources are available for anyone who needs someone to talk to.
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