- April 23, 2024
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Photos of lost loved ones adorn a board during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Michelle Marie sings the National Anthem during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Attendees stand as the names and photos of those who died in the Pulse massacre in 2016 are read and shown. Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz's photo appears on the monitor.
Photos of lost loved ones adorn a board during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Judge Dawn Fields speaks during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood speaks during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almena
State Attorney R.J. LaRizza speaks during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Debbie Stewart places a white rose in the ceremonial wreath in memory of her 23-year-old son, Jeremy Stewart, who died seven years ago. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Law enforcement hands the ceremonial wreaths to Andreas Stocker and George Stewart, who will paddle them out to sea. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
George Stewart and Andreas Stocker take the wreaths out to sea during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27.
A woman watches as the wreaths are carried away during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27.
Jim Sawgrass plays music during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Jim Sawgrass burns incense during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance Ceremony for victims and survivors of homicide and traumatic loss at The Shores Resort on Thursday, Sept. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
It was a somber evening of healing and commemoration on Thursday, Sept. 27, as grieving family members and survivors remembered loved ones who have died as a result of homicide and other tragedies during Halifax Health's National Day of Remembrance program.
Photos were hung on a board in the side of the room, twinkle lights illuminating the faces of people who are no longer with us. Handwritten phrases like "Gone too soon," "Never Forgotten" and "I miss you" framed their smiling faces. During the program, which was a collaboration with the Victims’ Services Coalition of the 7th Judicial Circuit, names were read — names of the Pulse massacre victims and fallen law enforcement officers, including two K-9s.
“I don’t know of any words that I can say that can ease that pain, but I can tell you from a law enforcement perspective that when a victim of a crime comes to us, we do everything humanely possible to bring closure," Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. "Impossible, but we try.”
State Attorney R.J. Larizza was the keynote speaker of the night. He told the story of being at home with his six-year-old granddaughter when the news reflected a seven-year-old girl in Duval County had died after a shooting.
He said his granddaughter looked at him and asked what happened.
“What happened?" LaRizza said. "Two words that you think a lot of the times would be easy to answer, but it wasn’t.”
It's a question many in the room have had to face, he said. This issue has become personal to him through the years, due to the many families of victims he has met and the friends he has made who have lost someone to suicide or another tragedy.
“I can’t protect [my granddaughter] from life," LaRizza said. "I can’t protect her from the bad things that are going to happen, but what I can do is help prepare her.”
The attendees of the program placed white roses in ceremonial wreaths as Jim Sawgrass played a solemn tune on his flute. The wreaths were paddled out to sea as loved ones gathered on the beach and watched them disappear beneath the waves.
