Orlando Memorial Grove Tree Planting Set For Saturday
Memorial Service, dedication and weekend fundraising events planned
A lineup of events has been planned this weekend in Asbury Park to honor and support victims of the Pulse Night Club Tragedy in Orlando.
Centered around Saturday’s community Orlando Memorial Grove planting in Library Square Park, entertainment and hospitality have to come together to serve has the organizational backbone to further raise money in support of the families of the 49 people killed and the 53 people wounded in the mass shooting.
“Asbury Park’s community came together immediately to respond to this tragedy,” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn [shown at right] said in a written news statement. “But members of the community wanted our support to be ongoing, weeks and months and years after the shooting. I was blown away by the generosity shown by Asbury Park in June, and by this permanent tribute and sign of that solidarity.”
In the immediate aftermath of the June 11 shooting at at the LGBTQ club’s popular Latin night, Asbury Park officials and community came together for a lowering of flags to half-mast at the Main Street located municipal complex. Georgies, the Hotel Tides, and Paradise nightclub all coordinated vigils and fundraisers dedicated to the recovery of the Orlando community, showing the city’s solidarity with their loss.
During the immediate aftermath, Jacqueline Klosek of Sunshine Girl Charities approached the city with the idea of planting a Memorial Grove in honor of the Orlando victims. The Manasquan-based non-profit, in conjunction with Barlow’s Flower Farm and individual donations, funded the purchases and Armstrong Tree Service cleared the area [gratis] of the existing trees, many of which were left dead following Superstorm Sandy, Quinn has said.
The trees will be provided with a water bag and attended to twice weekly by Environmental and Shade Tree Commission volunteers, city officials said.
The Hotel Tides not only garnered a donation of 20 shovels from the local Home Depot but have also held fundraiser in support of benches that will be placed throughout the park.
The weekend fundraising events kick off 5 p.m. with a poolside Tea Dance at The Asbury, located at 210 Fifth Ave.
The Orlando Memorial Grove planting kicks off at 8 a.m. when volunteers will plant a variety of flowering ornamental trees, provided at cost by Barlow’s Flower Farm in Sea Girt. The varietals include Cherry and Redbud trees, and all 49 will affixed with a memorial plaque for each of the fatal shooting victims.
A noon memorial service and dedication will immediately follow at the First and Grand avenue located park, featuring a lineup of speakers, including survivors, who will speak at the event. David Hoffman of Georgies collaborated with The Asbury in flying the survivors to Asbury Park. Lakehouse Music Academy students will perform between speakers.
Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. Sunday for drag brunch featuring DJ Haus Mimosa and the ‘The Girls of Pulse’ at The Asbury. Live music, improv comedy and a chance to win first place in a lip sync battle are on the bill. Tea Dance returns poolside from 2 to 6 p.m. at The Asbury.
The Memorial Planting support came from Sunshine Girls Charities, Barlow’s Flower Farm, the Environmental and Shade Tree Commission, Armstrong Tree Service, The Asbury Hotel, Hotel Tides, Purple Glaze Donuts, Asbury Audio, Watermark, Asbury Roastery, and the Asbury Park Public Works Department and Director of Planning and Redevelopment.
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