Thursday, April 17, 2008
Honoring, Remembering
April is National Crime Victims Memorial month. For those who have lost loved ones through violence, a time designated for remembering can be important and a reassurance that the broader community acknowledges that grief is never completely swept away by the passage of time. For a while now I have been wondering what it is about April in particular that makes it rife with tragic events -- isn't mid to late April when so many violent tragedies have struck? The bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma, the stand off in Waco at the David Karesh compound, Columbine, Virginia Tech?? Why? Why this time? If you have any ideas, post a comment. If there is anyone you would like to remember during this National Crime Victims Memorial month, list their name in a comment.
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3 comments:
Thank you, Reverend Mary Kay, for calling to our attention that April is a time for remembering those lives that have been lost through violence. The reason for April is that Stephanie Roper, whose parents have been instrumental in establishing rights for victims, was brutally murdered in April, 1982. The Roper's efforts were the catalyst for the victims' rights movement and April has been set aside to remember victims of crime. Yes, many tragedies have taken place in April, but, unfortunatly no month is more violent than another. When a large number of people die through violence, such as the Virginia Tech murders or the World Trade Center attack, it is more noteworthy than when one person is murdered. Yet, in the United States, 3000 people are murdered every six weeks--the same number of people who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center. This is true month in and month out. The date that changed the lives of all our family was June 10, 2001. That is the day our wonderful son, Michael Patten, and his friend, Lea Anne Brown, were brutally murdered. We remember them every minute of every day, but it is good that the broader community acknowledges the grief that is never swept away. I love the way you said that. You are a very compassionate and caring person and that is appreciated more than you can ever know.
Marge, Thank you for your comment and your efforts to increase awareness and understanding in the community and world. Rev. Mary Kay
Marge and family,
Please know that your grief is shared by others who care.
May God grant you peace and show you his loving mercy as you continue your life's journey without your son.
Diane Day
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