One Orlando United

     I wanted to write this on Sunday night, but I decided to give it some time, and stick to my new schedule. The first thing I want to do, and what I will always try to do in cases like this. is give you the list of the victims. I would rather you know their names, than the person who committed this atrocious act. Here is the complete list of names of the victims.

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

Cory James Connell, 21 years old

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

     This was a terrible act. the City Beautiful has a scar across its face, but Orlando will rise above this. The people of Orlando as well as around the world have united over this tragic incident. I post the names of the fallen, because I want you to know who they are. I want you to read their stories when you come across them, there are several out there. Please, do not read anymore stories about the shooter. He does not matter any more. You will never see the name of one of the people that does theses types of things on here. I can promise you that. I am against feeding into their infamy. To me, they should be forgotten as soon as possible.

     There are many stories coming out, of the heroism that took place, but I would like to take this time to applaud a few of them here. First, I would like to praise the off duty officer that was at Pulse, and had the initial gunfight with the shooter. He stood up in the face of the unknown and did what he was trained to do. The Orlando Police Department were the first on the scene. They created a permitter, and helped any wounded that they could find. They were followed shortly by the Orange County Sheriffs Department. They worked as a joint force and went in with SWAT to take down the shooter and save the lives of the hostages still inside the building. The medical personnel at ORMC that called in their emergency response team, that saved so many lives. Last but not least, were the brave souls that were in the building, and pulled wounded people out. The wrapped wounds with clothing and what ever they could find to stop bleeding. They were in a horrific environment, and had the composure to stop and think of others, risking their own lives in the process.

     All of those people above, including the injured that are mostly not named, because they deserve their privacy as they recover, deserve to be known. Their stories deserve to be told, and as I find them, I will pass them on to you. Stories like that of Patience Carter. She was in the club when the shooter came in. She found herself in the bathroom in one of the stalls, when he burst through the door and started firing. Someone she did not know, got in the way of one of the bullets that was meant for her. She was shot multiple times, but managed to survive. She came forward today to tell her story, and read a poem about survivors guilt. I'm sure her recovery will be as much from her physical wounds, as it will be from the mental ones. She will rise up, just like the city.

     We are all Orlando. We stand united in love, because love always conquers hate. I have a few things for you incase you want to help out. The first is the Gofundme campaign for the victims. Gofundme as waived their normal service fee so that all of the money will go to aiding the victims. https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund That link will take you directly to the page. The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, is helping out the victims, by taking in their pets as they recover. They are also taking in the pets of the fallen. The ones that their families just can't take care of their pets. You can help out, by going to http://petallianceorlando.org and donating. They are going to be working to find homes for those pets of the fallen, so that they will be loved and cared for. Lastly, if you are in the St. Pete/Tampa area on Friday. The Tampa Bay Rays are having a scheduled Pride Night. All remaining open seats will be $5, with all proceeds going to the Pulse Victims Fund. The RAYS also do a 50/50 raffle during the game. The process from the raffle that night will all go the the Pulse Victims Fund as well. Even if you don't like baseball, go out and show your support of the victims and their families.

     I would normally end this on this night, with the favorite song of the week, but instead, I want you to take the time you would listening to whatever song I posted and have a moment of silence. When you are done with that. I want you to live the life you want to, and walk without fear because you have love in your heart, because we are all One Orlando United. Peace in and goodnight.