MJFC O2 Vigil Report
MJFC Team members Janice, Damiano, Giuseppe, and Jonathan attended the O2 Vigil in London (UK) on July 13, 2009. Below follows a report from that event written by Janice:
MJFC at the O2 Vigil - 13 July
We arrived at the 02 at around 1.30 and joined a large group of Michael fans. There was a huge screen above us showing pictures of Michael at various different stages of his life and below that a platform. Behind the platform the walls were adorned with art work, pictures of Michael and messages.
Flowers, messages, candles, fedoras and soft toys were among the tributes laid there by fans.
Two large white walls with a black and white picture of Michael similar to the ones outside the Staples Centre in LA stood either side of the tributes and just in front of them were more flowers and messages behind barriers.
It wasn't long before Damiano, Giuseppe and I met up with Jonathan who had only just flown in from Philadelphia, PA (USA) that morning. There was constant stream of fans throughout the day writing their messages of condolence on the walls. Fans gathered on and around the platform, where Michael’s music was playing non stop and some were dancing and clapping.
It was a day of mixed feelings for all. Despite the organisers doing their best to get us all to celebrate Michael’s life, some of us were not ready and instead sat in quite reflection, remembering the beautiful soul that had been taken from us so soon.
Giuseppe had drawn a beautiful poster size picture of Michael and this was passed around for fans to sign. Damiano, Giuseppe, Jonathan and I signed on MJ’s fingers and MJFC was written in the palm of MJs hand.
We wandered into the 02 a couple of times (once to buy our commemorative ‘This Is It’ T-shirts) and got talking to one of their helpers, who said that it had felt strange inside the 02 for the past two weeks or so.
We walked right to the edge of where the arena was and that’s where it seemed to really hit me. It felt almost eerie, like something was missing.
After a while we went back outside to join the ever increasing crowd. You could feel the love for Michael all around, even though there was that feeling of emptiness.
Navi joined the crowds, as did the group ‘Signature’ from Britain’s Got Talent.
Later on towards the evening fans joined hands and sang ‘Heal The World whilst some fans let off a huge bunch of black and white balloons.
At 6.30 p.m., when the concert was supposed to start, a large group of fans asked for a minute of silence and at 7.00 p.m. hundreds of fans joined their hands together to re-create Michael's "Cry" video.
It is in occasions like these that we can all feel the love that Michael has given to the world.
If you also attended the O2 Vigil, signed the MJFC poster and want to have a special memory from that event (or if you didn't had the chance to be there but nevertheless want to have a special memory), you can get a reprint of this specifc poster. Giuseppe managed to get the MJFC poster printed with all the signatures included. It is available for $10 + shipping at the new MJFC Shop.
Source: MJFC