Gov. Ron DeSantis attended the ceremony and said those lives will never be forgotten.
“Two years after we lost 98 precious lives in the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers, grieving families, the local community, and the entire state continue to mourn,” he said. “The memory of those 98 Floridians will never be forgotten, and we will keep their families in our prayers.”
DeSantis also said he was thankful for the hundreds of first responders who rushed in to look for survivors and remained on the pile, working around the clock for days following the tragic collapse.
In 2022, DeSantis signed $1 million in the budget for the Department of State to build the Champlain Towers South Memorial.
He also signed House Bill 1469, which designated a portion of Collins Avenue in front of the former site of Champlain Towers South as “98 Points of Light Road” to commemorate the victims.
In addition to the ceremony, the Paramount Miami Worldcenter skyscraper lit up Friday night with the message ‘In Memoriam Surfside.’
The 700-foot-tall building also featured a star-spangled salute to the first responders that rescued people from the rumble.
Families of those lost in Surfside building collapse reach settlement (Associated Press)
Families of those lost in Surfside building collapse reach settlement (Associated Press)
Families of those lost in Surfside building collapse reach settlement (Associated Press)
Families of those lost in Surfside building collapse reach settlement (Associated Press)
Families of those lost in Surfside building collapse reach settlement (Associated Press)
Families of those lost in Surfside building collapse reach settlement (Associated Press)
Families of those lost in Surfside building collapse reach settlement (Associated Press)
Families of those lost in Surfside building collapse reach settlement (Associated Press)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida A partially collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida Firefighters search a partially collapsed building early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida A light glows in a partially collapsed building early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside area of Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida A partial collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside area of Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida A partial collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside area of Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida A partially collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida A partial collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside area of Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida People view a partially collapsed building early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida In this image made from video, officials arrive on the scene of a building collapse in Surfside, Miami, Fla., early Thursday, June 24, 2021. (Jamal Akakpo via AP)
Photos: Condo building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida In this image made from video, fire rescue crews are on the scene of a building collapse in Surfside, Miami, Fla., early Thursday, June 24, 2021. (Jamal Akakpo via AP)
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