ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 On the ten-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre, the somber site of the now-demolished club was heavy with the weight of grieving visitors. <\/p>\n
All day Friday, Orlando residents and some from as far away as Detroit, Michigan paid their respects to the 49 lives stolen on June 12th, 2016. <\/p>\n
Orlando resident Jose Luis spent hours at the site on the corner of Orange Avenue and W. Esther St., carefully laying down 49 roses in ribbon laced vases. <\/p>\n
Through tears, Jose Luis said he is doing this because 10 years later, \u201chalf his heart\u201d remains at the site where the nightclub stood. <\/p>\n
He lost two friends in the massacre, Joel Rayon Paniagua and Edward Sotomayor Jr. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe that ten years have passed. I still haven\u2019t process that,\u201d said Jose Luis \u201cI remember them with great affection.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Friday, many stopped by to whisper words of prayer, some touching their hands to the names of the victims listed on the fence that warps around the site. <\/p>\n
Dolores Garnett told Channel 9 she remembers living in Orlando and waking up to the news of the mass shooting ten years ago. <\/p>\n
\u201cI remember this too well. But it\u2019s just so sad, so many people gone,\u201d said Garnett. <\/p>\n
She remembers the aftermath of the tragedy and how the community came together. Deciding to make the trip to the site Friday. <\/p>\n
\u201c I said today is the day I\u2019m going to go by and just pay my respects,\u201d said Garnett. <\/p>\n
Meg Rohrer visited Orlando from Detroit, Michigan Friday. She stopped by the site with a group of friends. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels quite heavy and important to kind of sit with it. I mean, on any occasion, but especially today,\u201d said Rohrer. <\/p>\n
Rohrer remembers the attack from news reports ten years ago and said it was shocking for the entire nation, especially for those who identified as LGBTQ. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt just was really scary and yeah it felt like such a targeted attack on queerness,\u201d said Rohrer, \u201cI felt the draw to come here and see like the way that queer communities and families are honoring each other.\u201d <\/p>\n
On Friday, many of the visitors who stopped by the site stated they would be attending the city\u2019s Pulse 2026 Remembrance Ceremony. <\/p>\n
The event began at 5:30 featuring musical performances, a candlelight ceremony, and a reading of the 49 names.now-demolished<\/p>\n
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