Remembering

Yesterday was the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. The event was held at The National Press Club in Washington, DC. The event was co-hosted by the National Organization of Parents Of Murdered Children, Inc. (POMC) and Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. (MCVRC) and funded by The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
All over the nation towns honored victims with vigils, support groups, ceremonies, and more.
www.pomc.com
http://mcvrc-news.blogspot.com/
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/
The event was to honor the lives of those taken by violence; publicly recognizes the impact of homicide on their surviving family members and friends; and pays tribute to those organizations that work with and provide services to survivors of homicide victims. Remember. Remind. Respect.
1. Family Relationship Dynamics Following a Homicide
Remember – homicide creates trauma and devastating consequences to a wide circle of individuals, from family members and friends, to schools and communities, and to our nation as a whole

Remind – individuals and communities of the challenges and barriers faced by parents, spouses, children, and siblings
Respect – understand the importance of identifying and addressing the mental health needs of survivors
2. The Roles of Law Enforcement and Survivors of Homicide Victims
Remember – the interdependence between law enforcement and survivors
Remind – barriers to productive interaction and the benefits that result from proactive, positive interactions
Respect – mutual understanding of the roles and responsibilities as well as needs by survivors and law enforcement
3. Services and Rights of Survivors Assist in Justice
Remember – the requirements of laws and benefits of services to survivors
Remind – the benefits of appropriate treatment of survivors and their need for justice
Respect – following the law and understanding the need for full compliance of comprehensive rights & services for survivors
This document was produced by the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) under grant number 2010-VF-GX-0001 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this document are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
I lit candle for my brother and all of the victims. It was still lit when I got home. It was a tough night, working all day kept my mind off of it until it was almost time to go home, then the emotions started twirling. It was one of those cries that everyone needs once in a while. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing and my angst from building up inside of me. It was the first time my husband had prayed out loud for me. He got the prayer out of a book of blessings we got from our Marriage Mentoring that we are doing. I highly suggest the program for all marriages and for those who are about to get married. It really stresses faith building and your relationship with God. The second section is about tools for the marriage. This is the webiste if you are interested http://www.marriagecomission.com/partners/?ID=504. It is a year long commitment but worth it. I already see improvements in my marriage and we just did the First Foundation on Covenant.
After the prayer, I settled down and was finally able to blow out the candle. It's amazing what happens inside you when other people pray for you out loud for a specific reason. The Holy Spirit is absolutely amazing!
One of my favorite verses: Psalm 46:1
God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in times of trouble.