Church bells will toll throughout the Orlando area as residents reflect on the 49 patrons killed during a massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse in the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history.
Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma tends to the memorial in front of her club Saturday, June 10, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. Many events are being held across central Florida to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the June 12, 2016 massacre at the nightclub that left 49 people dead.
(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
FILE – In this July 11, 2016, file photo, visitors gather at a makeshift memorial outside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Church bells will toll throughout the Orlando area as residents reflect on the 49 patrons killed during a massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse in the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history. Starting in the wee hours Monday, June 12, 2017, and continuing almost 24 hours later, survivors, victims’ families, city officials and central Florida residents will remember the victims with multiple services.
(AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
AP Photo/John Raoux, File
FILE – In this June 12, 2016, file photo an Orlando Police officers direct family members away from a fatal shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Church bells will toll throughout the Orlando area as residents reflect on the 49 patrons killed during a massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse in the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history. Starting in the wee hours Monday, June 12, 2017, and continuing almost 24 hours later, survivors, victims’ families, city officials and central Florida residents will remember the victims with multiple services.
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File
FILE – In this June 13, 2016 file photo, Jennifer, right, and Mary Ware light candles during a vigil downtown for the victims of a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Church bells will toll throughout the Orlando area as residents reflect on the 49 patrons killed during a massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse in the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history. Starting in the wee hours Monday, June 12, 2017, and continuing almost 24 hours later, survivors, victims’ families, city officials and central Florida residents will remember the victims with multiple services.
(AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
AP Photo/David Goldman, File
Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma wipes tears away as she watches runners participating in the CommUNITYRainbowRun 4.9K road race pass her club in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, June 10, 2017. The race is one of many events across central Florida commemorating the one-year anniversary of the June 12, 2016 massacre at the nighclub that left 49 people dead.
(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
Runners Randa Black, left, and Elizabeth Anne-Noles cry after stopping in front of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, June 10, 2017. The CommUNITYRainbowRun 4.9K road race is one of many events across central Florida commemorating the one-year anniversary of the June 12, 2016 massacre at the club that left 49 people dead.
(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma tends to the memorial in front of her nightclub Saturday, June 10, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. Many events are being held across central Florida to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the June 12, 2016 massacre at the club that left 49 people dead.
(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
A runner wearing a gay pride rainbow flag pauses in front of the Pulse nightclub during the CommUNITYRainbowRun 4.9K road race, Saturday, June 10, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. The race is one of many events across central Florida commemorating the one-year anniversary of the June 12, 2016 massacre at the club that left 49 people dead.
(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma holds up a sign for runners passing her club during the CommUNITYRainbowRun 4.9K road race, Saturday, June 10, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. The race is one of many events across central Florida commemorating the one-year anniversary of the June 12, 2016 massacre at the club that left 49 people dead.
(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
Runners Randa Black, left, and Elizabeth Anne-Noles cry after stopping in front of the Pulse nightclub during the CommUNITYRainbowRun 4.9K road race, Saturday, June 10, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. The race is one of many events across central Florida commemorating the one-year anniversary of the June 12, 2016 massacre at the club that left 49 people dead.
(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Church bells will toll throughout the Orlando area as residents reflect on the 49 patrons killed during a massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse in the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history.
Starting in the early hours Monday, and continuing almost 24 hours later, survivors, victims’ families, city officials and central Florida residents will remember the victims with four services.
The first service is closed to the public, and it’s being held at the nightclub for survivors, local officials and club employees. It will overlap with the exact time that gunman Omar Mateen began firing shots — a little after 2 a.m. on June 12, 2016.
It is followed by another midday service at the nightclub, and an evening gathering in the heart of downtown Orlando. A final, music-filled late-night service is being held at the nightclub.
Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State during the attack and was eventually killed by police during a shootout after a three-hour standoff. His wife, Noor Salman, is facing charges of aiding and abetting and obstruction in federal court, and she has pleaded not guilty to helping her husband.
On Monday, local churches throughout Orlando have arranged for church bells to ring simultaneously, 49 times at noon.
Local officials also have declared the one-year mark as a day of “love and kindness,” and they are encouraging residents to volunteer or perform acts of compassion.
An exhibit of artwork collected from memorial sites set up around Orlando after the massacre will be shown at the Orange County History Center, and a giant rainbow, gay-pride flag will be unveiled at the Orange County government building.
Not all the survivors planned to attend the events, saying it would be too difficult.
“There’s going to be so many things going on that I feel it will be overwhelming for those affected,” said Ricardo Negron, who managed to escape the club without physical harm after the shooting started.
Demetrice Naulings said he would likely go to some of the commemorative events but he wasn’t looking forward to it. Naulings also escaped from the club but lost his best friend, who was fatally shot.
“Seeing all of the other people from the club, I’m pretty sure the hugs will be teary. I’m not looking forward to that,” Naulings said. “I’m not looking for ‘I’m sorry.’ I feel like that doesn’t help me. I feel like that is pity and I don’t want pity.”
