By Kevin Deutsch
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday issued a proclamation officially declaring Feb. 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Remembrance Day, during which all Florida residents will be asked to pause for a moment of silence at 3 p.m.
In memory of the 17 victims killed in the school shooting, DeSantis also ordered all U.S. and State of Florida flags be flown at half-staff at local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout Florida from sunrise to sunset on Feb. 14, 2022, the fourth anniversary of the attack.
“On Feb. 14, 2018, the 17 innocent lives of Alyssa Alhadeff, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque Anguiano, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Chris Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup, and Peter Wang were lost when a murderer opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida,” DeSantis wrote in his announcement of the legal proclamation.
“We will never forget the heroes of that day who risked and sacrificed their lives to protect the students, teachers, faculty, and families of Parkland, including Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s teachers and faculty, who courageously safeguarded the lives of their students,” the governor wrote in the legal proclamation.
“We will never forget the first responders and law enforcement who responded to the call that day to protect the innocent, and who continue to respond each and every day; and …we will never forget how the City of Parkland, the County of Broward, the State of Florida, and the United States united in supporting the students, families, and community of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.”
In his proclamation, DeSantis also referenced several actions he has taken since the mass shooting, including the signing of Florida Senate Bill 70, “Alyssa’s Law,” and the allocation of $8 million for all public and charter schools in Florida to install panic alert systems.
He also signed SB 590, requiring Florida schools to develop plans to quickly notify parents of threats, unlawful acts, and significant emergencies.
DeSantis said another safety tool now in use is the Florida Schools Safety Portal. It was developed by the Florida Department of Education to improve threat assessments, as recommended by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Commission’s recommendations, the governor said.
“We will continue to honor the memory of the innocent Floridians lost on that tragic day both in word and in deed, and we continue to convey our deepest sympathies to the families, loved ones, and Parkland community for their loss,” DeSantis wrote.
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