I went to this ceremony and it was beautiful. They sang Silent Night. A crime victim's advocate spoke. An employee from the District's Attorney's office played "Fragile" by Sting on his guitar. The Director of Juvenile Probation read a poem. A judge was the keynote speaker. The ceremony was held at the Central Presbyterian Church and their choir sang. Two members of the military spoke and the tree was lit. As a victim of domestic violence, I put an angel ornament on the tree with all the other victims of crime that were there. Here is the write up my local newspaper put in the newspaper about it:
By: Josh Edwards
The Christmas season can be difficult for crime victims, especially those who have lost a loved one to violence.
About 75 people gathered Monday evening during the fourth annual People Against Violent Crime Tree of Angels ceremony at Central Presbyterian Church to remember those lost to or victimized by violent crime.
“When you lose someone, the holidays are just not as joyful,” said Doris Sanford, who helped found the event in Lamar County.
But events such as the Tree of Angels help provide closure for victims, said Wanda Bayley, who cofounded the event with Sanford, Darrell Bruce and Carol Rhodes.
“You can dedicate one night to your loved, and so you feel more open to the holidays,” Bayley said.
Many victims of violent crime don't realize they are victims, the victim advocates said. Family members of violent criminals are also victims, because of how crime has affected them.
“They're victimized too, and those are the ones feeling uncomfortable going to things like this because they don't feel like they are welcome,” Bayley said.
“This program is for everybody who is against violent crime,” Sanford said.
The whole community has been victimized in a sense, especially by drug abuse, 62nd District Judge Scott McDowell said during his keynote speech during the program.
“Crime victimization leaves victims' family and friends, even the community around them, in a state of turmoil,” McDowell said.
Six years ago, there were four year-long controlled substance rehabilitation programs in the the state. Now there is only one and it is designed as a six-month program.
“It's a problem that needs to be addressed,” the judge said.
Because of the lack of drug treatment programs, McDowell said he often tells friends and families of drug users that not much can be done until the user commits a felony.
People Against Violent Crime is a statewide organization founded by Nell Myers in 1982. The first Tree of Angels was held in Austin in 1991. In 2000, the state designated the week of Dec. 4 though 10 as the Tree of Angels Week.
Source: http://theparisnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=7b5e601d1e83724e
