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Still MSD Strong: Ceremonial Temple Burning In Coral Springs Sends Messages Of Mourning Into The Sky

The wooden temple that's been sitting off of Sample Road in Coral Springs for the past three months was set on fire during a ceremonial burning Sunday night.

However, the structure did not burn to the ground. Firefighters extinguished the flames more than 10 minutes into the burning, because there were too many flying embers. The shell was left standing, though the messages inside and the ornate wood carvings were reduced to ash.  

"It's served as a gathering place to hopefully leave behindour sadness and our grief," Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook said. 

17 torches started the fire in a ceremony that emphasized healing and offered mourning and hopeful sentiments into the sky. The temporary work of art opened in February, exactly one year after 17 people were killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 

Read More: To Honor Parkland Victims David Best Is Building A Temple, Then Setting It On Fire

Hundreds of people spent Sunday afternoon leaving messages inside of the temple before the buring began, and hundreds more camped out to watch the ceremony. 

Called the Temple of Time, the installation is the first of five public works of art that will be created in the Cities of Coral Springs and Parkland,  part of a project called "Inspiring Community Healing After Gun Violence: The Power Of Art." 

To see photos from the temple, and from the ceremonial burning, click on the main image and scroll from left to right.

Caitie Muñoz, formerly Switalski, leads the WLRN Newsroom as Director of Daily News & Original Live Programming. Previously she reported on news and stories concerning quality of life in Broward County and its municipalities for WLRN News.
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