The Parkland 17: Events to honor victims of the Stoneman Douglas school shooting

The community will gather this month to honor the 17 people who died five years ago, on Feb. 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, and to show continued support for their families and survivors.

While events have taken place at religious institutions, parks, schools and city facilities over the years, there is no permanent memorial for the victims. The Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation is working to change that.

The nonprofit, which includes board members representing the victims’ families, residents and government officials, recently launched a fundraising campaign to build and maintain a memorial in a preserve on the border of Coral Springs and Parkland. To make a donation, visit parkland17.org.

A Call to Artists has been issued for the project with submissions being accepted through March 17. Visit broward.org/Arts/PublicArt and click on Call to Artists.

For help with post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health issues, find a list of resources at cityofparkland.org/mentalwellness.

The following gatherings and events have been planned to remember the 17 lives lost at MSD:

Gina Montalto (Montalto family/Courtesy )

Fifth annual Beach Cleanup in honor of Gina Rose Montalto — Honor the memory of Gina Montalto, one of the 17 victims, by participating in a yoga session at 8:15 a.m. and then a beach cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 12 at the Pompano Beach Fisher Family Pier, 222 N. Pompano Beach Blvd. Community service hours will be available for students. Extra hours will be given to those who bring donations of nonchocolate candy that will fill plastic eggs for the sixth annual Egg My Lawn event, which benefits the Gina Rose Montalto Memorial Foundation, on April 9. Email info@ginarosemmf.org.

Mass for Gina Montalto & Cara Loughran — A service is planned in memory of the victims at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 14 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1401 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs. Call 954-753-3330.

Lori Alhadeff, left, helps to release doves during a memorial at Eagles’ Haven Wellness Center on the fourth anniversary of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Alhadeff’s daughter, Alyssa, was one of the 17 victims. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

“Spreading the Love” Community Event — Eagles’ Haven Wellness Center has planned activities from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 14 at 5655 Coral Ridge Drive in Coral Springs. The center opened in 2019 to offer crisis intervention, licensed mental health clinicians, navigator services, wellness experiences and classes, all free of charge to students, parents and teachers. Everyone can take part in meditation, movement and creative arts experiences. Therapy dogs and ponies also will be on hand to provide comfort. The events begin with a candle-lighting and dove-release ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Visit eagleshaven.org or call 954-618-0350.

Holy Hour of Peace — The community is invited to spend quiet time remembering those affected by the tragedy at Stoneman Douglas from 3-4 p.m. Feb. 14 at Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, 5980 N. University Drive, in Parkland. Visit facebook.com/mhocrc.

Debra Hixon, center, raises a glow stick in the air to honor her husband Chris, who was one of the 17 victims of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, during a community commemoration event in Parkland. (John McCall /South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Community Commemoration — The city of Parkland will have a brief ceremony conducted by spiritual leaders to honor the 17 victims at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Pine Trails Park, 10559 Trails End. A short video will be shown immediately following the ceremony. The event also will include therapy dogs, a memory lane with photos of the victims, an area to write messages, and a drum circle. To live-stream the Community Commemoration, visit the city’s social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Visit cityofparkland.org/1573/28567/Community-Commemoration.
Plantation Heritage Park’s ParksFest Love & Music Day — The 100-member Florida Youth Orchestra with artist-in-residence Grammy-winner Nestor Torres will be performing an original composition, “Forever and Always — A Reflection,” by Max Fink, a former MSD student who is now a senior at the University of Miami getting his bachelor’s in music composition. He said he wrote the piece last year as “a dedication to the 17 fallen Eagles of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High.” The event is from 1-5 p.m. Feb. 19 at Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane, in Plantation. Free admission. Parking is $5. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Outside food, beverage, coolers and pets are not allowed. Food trucks, beer and wine will be available for purchase. Antique cars will be on display from the Antique Automobile Club of America Fort Lauderdale Chapter. Visit broward.org/Parks.