We are driving and trying to get though the late day traffic where everyone is a hurry to get somewhere. We arrive to our stop in plain site along the busy roadway with a live radio station telling listeners all about what is happening here. Some beep but keep moving, others stop in briefly and those who pass are reminded of those missing in Virginia. As always until something tragic like a missing person happens to a person they really lend no major effort of getting involved, it just has to be okay today, so I leave that alone.
This stop is like almost a reunion for me seeing families I have not seen in a while, sadly this only means that their person is still missing. Madonna and others have set up tents aligned with banners, signage and beautiful table displays marking all of the missing featured today and that they matter, they existed! Speakers execute their message, most who spoke were suffering a missing person and as their words flow out they tremble with held back tears trying to be heard. This part of our stops is the most heart wrenching as each story is so very important.
You see people who suffer the cruelties of a missing person have to tell their story, no matter how many times it takes to afford the right person to hear it. Meaning, a day will come that the message is received by someone who may know something, that can help with a tip or lead in the investigation; a vital part of advocacy. Families have to learn its meaning and play this role in each case.
advocacy
noun
noun: advocacy
- public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy:"their advocacy of traditional family values"synonyms: support for · backing of · promotion of · championing of · argument for ·push for · boosterism of
Organizations and advocates must teach families this great lesson. I witness this today, Madonna and other families standing up and taking on the fight, present to endure the battle they profess to one day claim victory. I continue to learn so much from those who our center has helped, watching victims gain a solid ground and utilize the tools and information we provide and experiencing the tides that turn to victim no more, I smile inside. I was taught that a good advocate is to teach their victim to become their own advocate, and be of help when they stumble or fall. CUE does this daily and I am proud of all those who work to make this happen.
Ending the day with this stop left a lot for me to think about for the several hours we had left to travel onward to Connecticut, cases featured ranged from months to decades on this day, but the feeling of loss was like it happened yesterday for all who stood there waving goodbye in our rear view mirror.
Monica Caison LYMI
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