Winter Garden Magazine June 2017 | Page 13

On June 12, it will have been one year since a gunman entered Orlando’s Pulse gay nightclub shortly after 2am, taking forty-nine lives, injuring fifty-three others, and rocking the City of Orlando to its core. The City of Orlando and Orange County Government, in collaboration with Pulse, have jointly designated June 12, 2017, "Orlando United Day - A Day of Love and Kindness" to honor the memory of the victims, support survivors and recognize the compassion and love that was displayed by the Central Florida community following the tragedy. the world, have stood together and shown enormous generosity, love, and kindness. The One Orlando Alliance, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs are asking that residents of the City Beautiful and beyond promote acts of love and kindness. The city has also scheduled several events across the city and set up a website, www.OrlandoUnitedDay.com. “Our community stands with you.” Orlando United Day is an opportunity to join with others in Acts of Love and Kindness to continue the unity that followed the tragedy. Engaging in these activities on June 12th is a respectful and loving way to remember and honor “Our community will never forget the the lives of those taken and to show tragedy of Pulse, or the grief of those compassion to those who need support. who lost loved ones, from heartbroken family and friends, to survivors Since June 12, 2016 Orlando’s LGBTQ+ putting shattered lives back together,” community has shown unprecedented Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said. unity and solidarity. We put our differences “Our community stands with you.” aside and supported one another with a future-forward commitment to a unified, Acts of Love and Kindness is the inclusive, and empowered community. The community’s way to say “thank you” and greater Orlando community, and rest of pay it forward. Getting involved is as simple JUNE 2017  |   WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE   |   13