FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – It was an emotional day as people from all walks of life came together Thursday at Central United Methodist Church on South Irby Street to pray for the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting in Orlando.
For each name, a story. And for each of those stories, a bell tolled inside the sanctuary. Those gathered honored those lost in the worst mass shooting in American history.
“It’s a shock and I know they’ll be in shock for some time. They need all the prayers they can get,” said Anne Chapman. She came here to do just that: offer her prayers, and remember. She said she was especially moved by the bell for each person killed.
“That was very touching,” said Chapman.
One Florence resident had a deeper connection to Sunday’s attack. Will Breazeale is a pilot with Southwest Airlines and is often in the Orlando area.
“Some of my coworkers in Orlando were in the club during the shooting,” he said. “I’m waiting to hear whether or not they were inured but I’m concerned about them.”
All he can do for now is pray for those who also found themselves inside during the massacre.
“Even just being in that environment, even if you weren’t injured physically, you’ve got to be injured emotionally,” Breazeale said.
It’s those emotional wounds that those who came to Thursday night’s vigil are praying will heal.