Parkland, Florida — The community is gearing up to honor the eight-year anniversary of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which claimed the lives of 17 individuals on February 14, 2018. A memorial ceremony at Pine Trails Park on Saturday is set to commemorate this heartbreaking event and celebrate the legacies of the victims.
As part of the ceremony, portraits of each victim will be displayed, reminding attendees of the lives lost. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in remembrance of what he called “one of the darkest days in our state’s history.”
An ongoing memorial outside the high school features mementos such as a rainbow and stuffed animals, serving as a poignant tribute to the victims. The community hopes this reminder will inspire reflection and promote healing.
In preparation for the anniversary, students across Broward County Public Schools engaged in a Day of Service and Love. At 10:17 a.m. on Friday, a moment of silence was observed in memory of the victims, followed by various acts of kindness. At Driftwood Elementary School, students formed a LOVE-shaped formation on the basketball court, while those at Deerfield Beach Elementary pledged to promote kindness.
Ramblewood Elementary School students participated by donating non-perishable food items, welcoming notable attendees including School Board member Lori Alhadeff and Superintendent Howard Hepburn. Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa was among those killed, expressed pride in the students’ efforts to spread love and service in memory of the victims.
The desire to effect change following the shooting led Alhadeff to co-found Make Our Schools Safe, a nonprofit advocating for legislative measures like silent panic alarms in schools. Another strong voice in the community, Debra Hixon—a teacher and widow of the slain athletic director—remembers her husband’s bravery during the incident and her ongoing commitment to education and safety.
Additionally, activist Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter Jaime, is championing Jaime’s Law, which seeks mandatory background checks for ammunition purchases. “After years of advocacy, this is the most sensible step I can suggest,” he stated, emphasizing the necessity of limiting who can obtain such materials.
Other organizations have emerged from the tragedy, including March For Our Lives, which advocates for increased gun control. Various local nonprofits continue to build on the legacy of the victims, fostering community engagement and promoting safety.
In a heartfelt tribute, Tony Montalto—a member of the Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation and father of victim Gina Montalto—envisions a permanent memorial to honor the legacy of those lost. He remarked, “Their legacy should be the smiles and laughter they brought into our lives, overshadowing the tragedy of their deaths.”
A public ceremony will take place at Pine Trails Park on Saturday, featuring a temporary memorial illuminated with lights and a garden, drawing hundreds of attendees who seek to remember and honor the 17 individuals whose lives were forever changed on that fateful day.