Man Travels From Illinois To Orlando And Builds Special Memorial

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ORLANDO (CBSMiami) – Amidst all the pain and suffering in Orlando there are many signs of hopefulness and love.

One of those signs can be seen in the form of 49 wooden crosses.

Greg Zanis' hands are full with wooden crosses that he made for each of the 49 Pulse nightclub shooting victims.

His heart is full too, of hope

"My message today is love your bother, love your neighbor. Don't judge them," said Zanis.

Zanis drove 1,200 miles from Illinois to place the crosses along a lake outside the Orlando Health Medical Center.

He's traveled to the scene of many tragedies.

"I went to Newtown put up 26 there," he said.

Wherever there is a mass murder, Zanis tries to show up days later.

He hopes his crosses give people a place to share a message and offer their personal condolences.

"Wait until you see these in a week," he said. "You won't even see the heart. It'll be a major focal point."

His generosity and caring touched those who witnessed his act of kindness.

Zanis said his father-in law was murdered 20 years ago and since that he day he stopped building houses and started building crosses.

He believes they're a symbol of something this community needs right now.

"Just offering hope in a very hopeless situation," he said.

Zanis told CBS4's Carey Codd that after people have a chance to sign the crosses and leave their condolences he plans to give the crosses to each of the victims' families.