ORLANDO – Over six months after the devastating massacre at Pulse Nightclub, the outpouring of love and support remains strong. Jeanine and Wally Goodnough are among those mourning a personal loss, that of their son’s friend, Edward “top hat Eddy” Sotomayor. Their first contribution to the memorial was in memory of Sotomayor, a top hat that Wally built with Styrofoam and Gorilla tape placed on wooden stilts, raising it off the ground. By sunset on the day they placed the top hat in front of the nightclub, it was covered in written messages of love for the victims.

The Goodnoughs were not finished. In the weeks and months following, they created four more memorial pieces, including the quote sign from Neema Jeanine and her husband, Wally Goodnough stand with the new addition to the Pulse Nightclub memorial. This memorial features the names and photographs of all 49 victims. Neema Bahrami, Latin night organizer at Pulse, the Orlando Strong rainbow, the Hugs Not Hate sign, and the Love Starts with You sign.

On Jan. 25, they brought their newest contribution, a memorial piece displaying the names and photographs of the 49 victims surrounded by colorful flowers. Visitors gathered by the new memorial to take photographs and join together in support for one another, as they shared their personal stories and connections with Pulse.

For sisters Nancy Dulniak and Peg Downey, emotions still run high as they talk about their feelings.

“There’s so many young people who like to enjoy being out and having fun, and they don’t expect to have their life end that night … it’s just totally wrong,” Dulniak said.

Visitors like Michael Wright and John Pol are also still devastated by the horrific events, but they are recognizing the positive moves forward.

“People came together, I mean I think it caused more good in the long run so their names aren’t forgotten, I mean look this is beautiful,” Wright said in reference to the memorial.

Although Orlando was hit hard by the innocent lives lost on June 12, 2016, it also showed the nation an extremely unified community which is supportive and strong, Orlando Strong. As “top hat Eddy” loved to recite, “Do as much good as you can, to as many people as you can, as often as you can.” In the months since the shooting, we have seen the Orlando community and beyond do just that.