Eagle Foundation releases "Hope" in honor of Orlando victims

(Courtesy: American Eagle Foundation)

DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (AP) — The American Eagle Foundation has released a bald eaglet into the wild named Hope in honor of the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the 13-week-old bald eaglet left his artificial nesting tower overlooking Douglas Lake near Dandridge on Friday.

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Based in Pigeon Forge, the American Eagle Foundation releases most of its eagles in honor of, or memory of, individuals.

On Friday, foundation President Al Cecere led a brief program that included the reading of the names those killed in the June 12 attack that left 49 dead, the worst mass-shooting in modern U.S. history.

Cecere says the eaglet's name signifies hope for the future.

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Information from: Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com