PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
From left, Jan Muirhead, Katie Moniz, Carla Moniz and Susie Moniz stand under a rainbow umbrella during the candlelight vigil for the Orlando shooting victims at Goldfish Pond in Lynn.
BY MICHELE DURGIN
LYNN — The Goldfish Pond Association hosted a candlelight vigil Sunday to honor the 49 lives lost in the Orlando nightclub mass shooting.
About 200 people gathered at dusk with candles and created a symbolic circle of light and hope around the perimeter of the pond.
Flags matching the number of people killed in the massacre fluttered on the pond’s island. After a moment of silence, the simple lyrics of “Feel My Hope,” wafted over the crowd, moving people to tears.
Coco Alinsug, who spoke at the event, sent a message of acceptance.
“I am foreign born,” Alinsug said. “I came to America so that I could live my life being honest to myself and my family. I’ve never regretted that decision. I married Peter, the love of my life, and we live here free to be ourselves, without judgement.”
City Councilor Brian LaPierre who was also in attendance with his son, Owen, said he needed to be at the vigil because everyone has been touched by the events in Florida.
“They are all in our thoughts and prayers, and I truly believe that one day the Pulse nightclub will be filled with people singing and dancing because we are a resilient nation and we stand together in saying we have no tolerance for the violence and hatred suffered by those innocent people,” he said.
Colette Mundele, 39, of Lynn said she attended the vigil because the message of tolerance and acceptance is louder when delivered by a group of people.
“Everyone deserves to be free to express who they really are and live in peace and safety,” she said. “I want the victims’ families to know they are not alone and we stand united with them.”
Rosemie Leyre shared her poem with the crowd. Her message was simple: “We must celebrate diversity and we must send a message of hope as we reach out to those who need us most.”
Paul Coombs, president of the Goldfish Pond Association, said he was grateful to those in attendance.
“We gather to heal,” he said. “What happened a week ago is intolerable and even though the goal of tolerance is allusive,we must continue to seek it and never give up. Good will always overcome bad.”
