SIX years have now passed since one of the worst school shootings in US history, but for first responder Mike Moser, it feels like yesterday.
Mike, division chief of the Coral Springs Fire Department back on February 14, 2018, was one of the earliest specialists to arrive at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, following 911 calls of an active situation inside.
Deranged Nikolas Cruz mercilessly gunned down 17 innocent victims with an AR-15 rifle that fateful day, rocking a small town that will never forget the needless agony and heartbreak caused.
Mike admits to seeing and witnessing things no one should ever see, yet says the fast-acting work of a glut of emergency service professionals helped save the lives of many people who were injured.
His team had undergone specific training about how to react to an active shooter just a few weeks before.
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Nothing, however, could prepare him for the horrors that unfolded and the agony that is still so raw for those affected.
Subsequent reports of the incident claimed paramedics from Mike's fire department had to ask "six times" to send in special teams, only to be told no by the Broward Sheriff Office Captain Jan Jordan.
It eventually transpired, however, that Jordan did indeed make the right call, with rescue team protocols stressing various criteria connected to any on-going situation had not been satisfied in the immediate aftermath of Cruz's rampage.
He recalls, however, how over a 100 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and helped deal with the horrific unfolding situation, one which continues to haunt everyone affected to this very day.
"Everybody deals with things differently since that time, but some of our employees, our firefighters and paramedics still struggle with it every single day, he told The U.S. Sun.
"Some of them more so than others, but no matter how tragic our job can be, no matter how bad things get and things that we see that normal people don't have to see every day, that was at a level that can never be imagined."
While many were injured in the carnage and were successfully treated, the mental anguish will never disappear.
"There's no guidebook or training manual on how your emotions are going to react to that and how you're going to manage that," added Mike.
The school building where the massacre took place is still standing, but is set to finally be demolished this summer now that Cruz has been sentenced to life in jail.
Cruz pleaded guilty in 2021 to the 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder and was ordered to serve a life with no parole.
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The judge also imposed a sentence of life in prison with a minimum of 20 years to serve on 14 of the 17 counts of attempted murder.
The remaining three counts of attempted murder also came with life without parole.
Linda Beigel Schulman, whose son Scott was a teacher and one of the 17 victims, spoke movingly last year to The U.S. Sun about having the opportunity to revisit the classroom which had remained untouched while legal proceedings continue.
Yet for everyone involved, the tearing down of that part of the school and the creation of a permanent monument to honor those lives lost will, in a small way, provide relief for those mourning the passing of their loved ones.
Mike is the chairman of the Parkland 17 foundation, which was established to help bring the memorial project to life.
They have had applications from over 50 artists from all over the world, but have narrowed down the list to six hopefuls.
The plan is to build it on a currently unused golf course, which borders Parkland and Coral Springs. It will be accessible for everyone who wants to pay their respects.
Nothing can erase the pain for the families affected, but Mike and his fellow foundation members are trying their best.
"The feelings are still raw.," he admitted. "Tony Montalto works with us and his daughter Gina was killed in the shooting. He thinks of her every single day, from the moment he wakes up until the time he goes to bed.
"I can't even imagine the pain and suffering that they must feel, but we hope the memorial will give the families and also the community a place to be able to go, reflect, and honor those people who were killed."
