Updated 03/25/2011 10:23 PM
Happy Land Fire Victims Remembered At Vigil
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Friday marked 21 years since the deadly fire at the Happy Land Social Club in the Bronx.
Eighty-seven people, mostly Honduran immigrants, were killed in the largest fire recorded in the borough.
A Mass to remember the victims was held at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church at 1900 Crotona Parkway.
A vigil was also held at the Happy Land Memorial monument near the site of the fire.
Victims' relatives who attended the Mass said their pain will never go away.
"It's just so hard because she's not here no more and we need her because without her nothing's the same," said Gladys Gomez, whose mother was killed in the club. "I got other siblings that need her. She's got grandkids... and none of the grandkids are ever going to know her."
"It's 21 years ago but it's as if it was today. That's how significant this day is and how sad it was," said Jose Avila, who lost his cousin in the fire.
The fire was caused by Julio Gonzalez, who set fire to the club to try to get revenge on his ex-girlfriend. He was convicted of 87 counts of murder and arson and has been in prison since 1991.