VERO BEACH – Family members and friends of those killed as a result of criminal actions of others gathered Thursday at Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary to remember their loved ones.
“We must not – cannot forget the real victims of crime,” said Paul Zelno, a member of the Indian River County Victims’ Rights Coalition, during the 19th annual Victims’ Rights Vigil.
Zelno lost his wife, Donna, in 2007 to a drunk driver.
Vero Beach attorney Erin Grall, a candidate for the District 29 seat in the Florida House of Representatives, was the keynote speaker during the vigil.
Grall, a friend of Zelno’s son from school days, went to the hospital to be with the family when Donna was brought it after the crash.
“I saw first-hand the impact of the death of Donna” on the Zelnos, Grall said.
She also told the audience that a young woman she knew her freshman year of college was killed in a DUI-related crash.
The drunk driver had been arrested six times before for driving under the influence, Grall said.
“The system let him go,” she said.
Grall told the audience that while work must be done to take on those large issues, they should not lose sight of the small steps they can take, by working with youth.
“We cannot stop,” Grall said. “We need to look at where we can make a difference.”
She said they need to work with at-risk children, providing a positive atmosphere and influence. Grall explained that messages in the media and video games give children the impression that death is not permanent.
“We are missing the boat,” she said, if children are not taught the difference between right and wrong and that there are consequences to their actions.
To end the vigil, Margie Ellis, from the State Attorney’s Office, sang “I believe I can fly” as butterflies were released and VFW Honor Guard Post 1139’s Ed Bagley played Taps.
“The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office is not only dedicated to reducing the amount of crime that occurs in our county, but we also realize the importance of having the resources and support available to victims of crime and their families,” Sheriff Deryl Loar said in a statement. “I am proud to support Victim’s Rights Week here in Indian River County.”
Remembering those lost:
Nolan Adams
James Mitchell
Vonda Adams
Mark Moore
John Aleks
Gilberto Bautista Morales
Jessie Anderson
Benjamin Mosena
Adam Peter Arias
Robert Jude Nanni
Janie Bagley
Clara Nelson
Michael Barrett
Christopher “Buzzy” Norman
Chris Beecher
Brian O’Halloran
Cynthia A. Bigelow
Anthony Oliver III
Johnathan A. Booth, Jr.
Charles Owens
Matthew Bornoosh
Scott Owens
Victoria Baum Boyer
Subhash Patel
Munish I. Brahmbhutt
Connie Lynn Pease
Ashlee Burd
Marianne Perlick
Robert L. Cade
Alan Pfeifer
Sarah Campbell
Alonzia James Phillips
Larry Lee Cannon
Justin Travis Pooley
Bruce Michael Castro
Ben Pyeatt
Kendall Lamar Champion
Cpl. Richard Raczkoski
Katherine Clark
Chadley “Chad” Rhodes
Marilu Zaremba Cogswell
David Lamar Rice
Juruncius D. Crawford
Shawn Joseph Rodriquez
Nicole Damatt
Earl Francis Rompre III
Pamela Fox Dare
Marsha Ross
Illias “Louie” Diles
Kathleen Schmidt
Cynthia Ann Driggers
Norman Schmidt
Franklin Edward
Lynn Rose Schuler
Frances Edwards
Roy Scott Jr.
William Edwards
Jonathan Michael Selph
Richard J. Eisenmann, D.O.
Homer Venton Shaffer
Lynn Carol Elliott
Brion Steven Sheriff
Adrian DeVon Evans
Christine Smetzer
Ann Marie Fischer
Michael Smith
Rockee Flowers
Keenan Lyon-Stewart
Christine Franke
Ruth Edith Struck
Joann Lynette Gray
Fred Tamparo
Ross Grayam
John Torres
Angel Ann Halstead
John Traylor
Bijah Harris
Lynnette Tropf
Samuel Hernandez
Allen Turner
Baby Hope
Lindsay Turner
Zacharian Horskin
Steven Turner
Tariq Hussain
Tarmisha Ulissis
Pamela Jackson
David Umhoefer
Stephanie Jackson
Robin Valdes
Willie S. Jefferson
Fernando Vazquez
Billie Marie Jenkins
Rapheal Walden
Gregory Jones
Ronald Edward Warrior
Kathleen Kincaid
Lorie Lynn Webber
Ellen Klucinec
Tyrone James Weems Jr.
Kovan Aaron Knight
Taneka Wells
Dian Louise Laemer
Felicia White
Mary Lett
Margaret Wibe
Renada Talease Lucas
Mary Ellen Wise
Jeffery Glenn Mallory
Livingston Williams
Willette M. McLeod
Tellis C. Williams Jr.
Helen McPherson
Ian Williamson
Betty Metz
Charles Andrew Yaggie
Danita Metz
Richard Yarbrough
June Metz
Donna Zelno