“Wings of a Rainbow” will feature the names of the 49 Pulse shooting victims on reflective acrylic glass, set within a butterfly garden at Brownie Wise Park. PHOTO/OSCEOLA COUNTY
Of the 49 innocent club goers who were killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando — Wednesday marked the eighth anniversary of that horrific event — a third of them had a connection to Osceola County. They lived here, they worked here, or their families do.
During the unveiling at the County Commissioners Chambers, Osceola County Commission Chair Cheryl Grieb and world-renowned artist Jefre Figueras Manuel, known in the art world simply as Jefrë, presented plans for much-talked-about Pulse tribute “Wings of a Rainbow” to be constructed at Brownie Wise Park, off Neptune Road east of Kissimmee.
At a cost of $250,000, coming from yet-uncommitted county American Rescue Plan funds, the 49-foot structure should be completed in about a year.
Plans for an Orlando memorial have barely moved inconsistently in the eight years since the shooting.
“Love is love, and your loved ones were taken from you way too soon,” Grieb said to a gathering of family members of Pulse victims Wednesday.
Grieb explained when she was young and came out as gay, she had no place to go to in Osceola, so she went to Orlando. So, when she heard of the tragedy, she said she instantly thought, “My god, that could have been me or my friend, my brother, or my sister.”
“We knew here in Osceola that we needed to do something,” she said. “I know that I can never connect with the loss, but I still wanted to let you know that someone was here.”
Grieb said the journey for this tribute began over a year ago working with the families and survivors. When she sought the aid of Orlando-based Jefrë and informed him of what they were trying to do, to he said he’d do it for free.
“He’s offered his time, his talent, and as you’ll see it’s a whole production,” said Grieb, who also noted a local engineer offered services to provide the base. “We wanted the families to see the first preview.”
As the presentation played, teary eyes and sniffles could be heard throughout the room as Jefrëshared the tribute structure, called “Wings of the Rainbow”.
“We gather here to honor the 49 lives tragically lost at the Pulse nightclub tragedy with a proper tribute,” said Jefrë. “This sculpture is a collaboration of myself and the Osceola County government and stands as a symbol of remembrance, diversity, and hope.”
“Each wing symbolizes the unique and beautiful lives of the victims that embody their spirit and the life they brought into the world,” said Jefrë. He said the rainbow hues reflect the diversity and unity of the LGBTQ+ community celebrating their beauty and differences coming together.
Wings of the Rainbow will be central in a heart-shaped butterfly garden with individual family stones with images of those lost. The glass in the acrylic structure will cast a rainbow, with each of the 49 lost names imbedded inside the glass to ensure that each individual is forever remembered.
“During the day, the sun will dance off the colorful wings, casting a spectrum of color across the park and create a vibrant and dynamic display that mirrors the lively spirits of those we lost,” said Jefrë. “And at night, these wings will rise up to create the form of an eternal flame that is illuminated to create a glowing beacon that symbolizes the eternal presence and guiding light of the 49 angels.”
Harbor trees in the garden will honor the first responders to and survivors of the shooting. Visitors will have the opportunity to leave digital messages to the cloud of each victim via QR codes, providing an interactive personal element.
“I hope this tribute not only honors the lives we lost but also serve as a beacon of hope and unity for the community,” said Jefrë. “Wings of the Rainbow is not just a statue or last introduction of the 49 angels, it stands as a beacon for hope, community, and resilience. They inspire us to embrace diversity, share our humanity, and to strive for a world with love and acceptance.”
