Letter (2016.034.1675)

Printed message that says, “A nation is mourning your loss. And a network of florist [sic], across the country want to help celebrate your loved one’s life with a memorial arrangement in their honor. Flowers can be very costly and we want to help alleviate as much cost as we can. We, as a collective, will donate one arrangement to every family that lost a loved one for your family member’s service. If you are not from here, we will work with your hometown florist to get them the funds to create your arrangement. We wish we could give more and do not want to solicit your business, we will just be acting an [sic] the connector for funds to the florist you would like to use. / We will never know your loss, but we want you to know that we are sending all the love and support we can during your extreme time of mourning and pain. / Our flower shop is located 1 mile from Pulse, we lost friends and loved-ones to those hateful actions that night. As we heal, we want to help you heal as well. / We are here for you. We love you, and hope that this will help in some small way prove that love is love, hate will not win and you will forever be in our hearts. / Sally & John Kobylinski / In Bloom Florist / 407-649-7771 / InBloomFlorist.com” On the reverse side is a printed image of a floral arrangement with a message, “Your Family is in our prayers.”

Historical Notes: In Bloom Florist created and donated 79 funeral pieces for 41 of the victims’ families. The shop was able, with the help of 34 flower shops across North America, to send flowers throughout Central Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico. The florists then used remaining donated materials to create pieces for the Orlando community, including an eight-foot tall heart that stood at Lake Eola during the candlelight vigil on June 19, 2016 and in the weeks to follow.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Memorial, Flowers, In Bloom Florist, Local Response