6 months later: Love, healing main messages during Pulse remembrance ceremony

ORLANDO, Fla. — People gathered at the Orange County History Center Monday evening for a special tribute to the victims and survivors of the Pulse attack.

The overall message was that it will take a lifetime of healing, but that love will prevail after so many had their worlds turned upside down six months ago on June 12 when 49 people were killed and dozens wounded in a mass shooting carried out by Omar Mateen.

The vigil began just after 5:30 p.m. with prayer and song, along with people who dressed up as angels to mark the 49 lives lost during the attack.

Survivors, families and employees from the Pulse nightclub attended the vigil tears and shed as the names of the victims were read aloud.

Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, Orlando Police Chief John Mina, Mayor Teresa Jacobs, and Pulse club owner, Barbara Poma, spoke to the crowd.

“Where do we go from here? We only have one way to go, and that is forward,” said Poma.

Jacobs said that after the attack, the city of Orlando came together and showed the world what a community is all about.

"They will forever be in our hearts and with each and every heartbeat of our community, these lovely lost souls will be our Pulse, Orlando's Pulse," Jacobs said.

After the event at the Orange County History Center, crowds gathered at the nightclub for prayer, peace and healing.

The angels walked from the History Center to Pulse nigthclub.

Brandon Wolf made it out of the nightclub the night of the attack, but without some of his friends.

“I went into the club with four of us, and only two came out,” he said.

Across Orlando, many landmarks were lit up in the colors of the rainbow flag to remember the 49 people lives lost.

The Orlando Eye, the fountain at Lake Eola, The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the Orange County History Center were lit up in rainbow colors.

You can watch Barbara Poma's speech from the vigil below: 

Another vigil was held at 2 a.m. Monday, which is the same time a gunman entered and opened fire inside the club six months ago.

“It has been a very devastating and life-changing experience,” said club promoter Charlotte Davis.

Orlando Torres, who was a promoter for Pulse, said he hid inside a restroom with other people on the morning of the attack.

Special Section: Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando

“It was very somber, very touching. A lot of people crying very loud,” said Torres.

Torres said it’s the same restroom in which the gunman went in and out several times.

“They were all calling police or family members and I am telling them, ‘Shh! Shh!’ in case he comes back in,” said Torres.

Torres said hearing the stories and the names of victims’ friends and coworkers who were killed that night, was like reliving the day.

“It is emotional. It is the holiday. Now they are going to spend the first one without their loved ones, and it is tough for anybody. Very tough,” Torres said.

“You would never think something you see on TV would happen in your back yard,” said friend of victims, Gabriel Couvertier.

Susana Pacheco and her partner joined the community Monday to remember the victims with candles, signs and other mementos.

Pacheco said she lost two friends, Amanda Alvear and Mercedez Flores during the attack.

“We were expecting to find them in the hospital, if they were unconscious. We never knew if they would be part of the 49 that were gone," said Pacheco.

Monday would have been Alvear’s birthday, and Susana went to the club to mark the occasion.

"It hurts because she's not here to celebrate it," said Pacheco.

Many are asking the community to remember “Orlando United.”

"Just love each other no matter what color, who you love. Love is love and just embrace everyone what, who, what they look like. We're all humans," Pacheco said.

The shooting at Pulse was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, and the way the community responded was amazing, a friend of one of the victims said.

“I am very proud to live in this city, because in a lot of other places this kind of support would not be here,” he said.

While the event was just for family and friends of the victims, others paid their respects from outside the gates.

“You felt awful. You just wanted to hug them to comfort them in any way,” said the son of first responder Josh Delgado.

See photos of 2 a.m. Pulse vigil below:

More stories on WFTV.com:

• Emotional vigil marks 6 months since Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando
• 1 killed, 4 hospitalized after shooting in crime-plagued Pine Hills neighborhood
• Lakeland 7th grader's random act of kindness makes a world of difference for boy in need

Cox Media Group