POMC – The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children posted this on their website today: https://www.pomc.org/uncategorized/national-day-of-remembrance/?utm_source=copilot.com

Yesterday, Friday, September 25, I lit a candle for Morgan and for every person whose life was taken by murder. I thought about the people who loved them, too: the parents, children, partners, siblings, and friends who are left trying to live with a loss that never should have happened.

When someone you love is murdered, the shock can be hard to put into words. You may feel numb one moment and overwhelmed the next. Your mind may go over what happened again and again, even when you desperately want to remember the person you loved as they lived. A sound, a place, or a small detail can bring it all rushing back.

And then some people make that pain worse. Strangers online may speculate, blame the victim, or attack the family without knowing anything about them. Families should never have to defend themselves while grieving someone they love.

There is no neat timeline for this kind of grief. Some days you can manage what needs to be done. Other days, the weight of it catches you off guard. I know that lighting a candle cannot change what happened to Morgan or bring anyone’s loved one home. But yesterday, I wanted their families to know they were in my thoughts. Their loved ones matter. Their lives matter. And those left behind deserve compassion and support.

For information and resources for families and friends affected by homicide, visit the Office for Victims of Crime.