It's hard to believe yesterday marked one year since the shooting massacre at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. The deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. -- committed by a man living in Florida motivated by hate, terror and the Islamic State. It struck very close to home, with the first victim identified, Eddie "Top Hat" Sotomayor, from Sarasota. Last night, an intimate gathering of Eddie's friends and concerned members of the community gathered at a park downtown to remember Eddie and the 48 others lost.
With storm clouds building (the symbolism not lost on us), 49 white balloons were released in remembrance of each victim. I've only read or heard stories about Eddie. By all accounts, it sounds like he was a fun, caring person. His friend who organized the vigil said Eddie would've really liked this small, casual gathering...which is nice to hear. So much more to say about the Pulse terrorist attack, but I'll leave it at that.
