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Indiana memorial service planned for Orlando victims

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – LifeJourney Church is hosting a memorial service to remember victims of a mass shooting at an Orlando, FL nightclub.

Police said around 2:00 a.m. Sunday, June 12 Omar Mateen walked inside of Pulse Nightclub, a popular LGBTQ business, and started shooting. Forty-nine people, between 18 and 50 years old, were killed. Fifty-three others were injured. Police shot and killed Mateen on the scene after a three-hour stand-off.

Among the dead is Darry Burt, II. Burt, 29, lived in Jacksonville, FL but was a native of Avon, IN. He was a 2005 graduate of Plainfield High School.

The memorial service at LifeJourney Church is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15. Door will open at 6 p.m. at which time attendees will be allowed to create rainbow “comfort crosses”. The crosses will be sent to Orlando to symbolize the Indianapolis LGBTQ community and its allies are standing in solidarity with those hurting in Orlando.

Rev. Melody Merida of LifeJourney Church, along with representatives of Central Christian Church, will preside over the service. During the service, the names of the victims will be read aloud and a candle will be lit in remembrance.

Church leaders hope the service will provide a sense of peace and calm for the community as a whole, not just the LGBTQ community.