Orlando City SC, an MLS soccer team, is preparing a new stadium for their upcoming season and put together a very special section of seats to honor those who lost their lives in the Pulse nightclub shooting last June. The club, along with a sister team from the National Women’s Soccer League, the Orlando Pride, marked off 49 seats, one for each victim, and had them painted in an array matching the gay pride flag.
Here’s a video of official unveiling:
This is hardly the first impassioned gesture made by Orlando City SC. The flag has made many appearances officially and unofficially, around team events and in the stadium. In the first game following the tragic killing spree, the team replaced almost all of its flag, including those demarking the corners of the fields, with rainbow flags in a show of solidarity.
Here’s what the scene looked like in the stands during that game:
49 seats were left vacant and had balloons attached to them in memory of the victims, a theme the club sought to recreate permanently by painting the seats:
At the unveiling of the new seats, arranged prominently seven by seven, Orlando City president Phil Rawlins offered some words to match the gesture. A transcript is below.
"Just over six months ago on June the 12th, there was the senseless loss of 49 lives at the Pulse Nigthclub," Rawlins said in video of the private ceremony the club released. "And as a sports, as a community, as a soccer club, we responded to that tragedy in the very best possible way.
"And it was my belief, I know it's your belief as a club, that this sport can lift up a community and help to heal a community. And that's what we did on that Saturday following the Pulse tragedy.
"... We made a commitment on that day that, which is that we would commemorate, forever, in the new stadium a memory of the 49 victims that lost their lives that day. And today we're here to do that. We're here to commenorate and unveile the 49 rainbow seats that will sit permanently in section 12 of our new stadium as a constant reminder of the senseless acts of June 12."
The team’s season opener, which will be held at the new stadium, kicks off on March 5th against New York City FC.
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.