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Vigil keeps alive memories of abused children
Regan Hill
Emily Menster lights a candle Thursday during a memorial at the Church of the Springs honoring children who died of abuse.
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Published: October 16, 2009
Some didn't live to reach their first birthdays. A few managed to make it to their early teens.
The 33 names on the list were not there because of a tragic illness or accident. Instead all were victims of homicide – at the hands of a parent or some other caregiver.
Those 33 children were remembered Thursday night at the annual A Wish and A Hope for Children, a candlelight vigil to serve as a reminder that children are still dying as a result of abuse.
During the short and somber ceremony, the voices of several children in the audience at the Presbyterian Church of the Springs at Barium Springs were heard.
Amy Eisele, director of SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now), said she hopes the ceremony will serve as a reminder that children are of value.
She said she hopes every one of the approximately 50 people in attendance will spread the message of stopping child abuse.
"Each one of you is a little missive for our community," she said.
The ceremony included the lighting of a three-wick candle, which symbolizes the children who died at the hands of a loved one, those presently suffering from abuse and the hope for the future that no children will be abused.
The back of the church was filled with 33 child-sized chairs, each draped in black cloth and holding a picture frame with the name, age and cause of death of each child.
Marcie Stultz attended the ceremony with her children.
"I think it's a wonderful tribute," she said. "It's trying to bring awareness to people."
Stultz said hearing the name, age and cause of death for each child was particularly powerful because of her own small daughter.
"A lot of them were about her age," she said.
The ceremony ended with another child, Taylor Tilley, offering a special prayer. Taylor, with a little bit of help, recited the prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep."
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