Rally Stop Lovingston, VA

Rally Stop - Lovingston, VA

Through the mist of the fog and drizzling rain I look to see whats ahead for Alexis Murphy's stop; I was told we would be dedicating a garden and Shawn shared all the wonderful things about those helping and items donated. I am looking forward to this stop. I think because it is outdoors and I really love these type of settings, a place to go is important for times in life that a person may need to be somewhere private.

We pull in a walk way of missing people staked into the ground leading the direction of the path to our destination. Under full trees that reach out to the sky for life but shading the undergrowth of plants and flowers everywhere, there lies a bench facing the busy world at a glance. I take a deep breath as I see in the distance a framed photo of Alexis on a wooden cut tree stump, I am quickly reminded of why we are here and I am not so excited anymore.

I look further beyond that point to see all of a sudden people entering the path and the rain is picking up somewhat, I feel hundreds of angels are crying as more people begin to gather under the trees for shelter. You here many talking, see them hug and some go immediately to capture the view photos of the missing on display. A thickness begins to build of soft mourning, you can feel the heart break as the Harrington's enter into the scenery, a shared understanding without a word spoken.

Speakers and families line up to begin, everyone listens intensely to each word, people are crying but you cannot really see that as the rain mixes with the tears; passion for justice is embedded in each message spoken today. You see no matter what stage in your case you are a,t you always want to be heard and want to feel justice for your loved one. Someone has to take responsibility for all the pain they cause, right? The one thing I have found that ALL families experience the same is the constant loss, through the missing part - the court room and justice - and the final recovery. The public never really sees the roller coaster ride of emotion families left behind go through nor can thy grasp how they are forever changed by this tragedy.

As things come to an end, many linger around not wanting to leave, the families stand by waving people onward and thank yous are heard a million times over, as if they are giving you permission to leave, and finally everyone does. We are packing up after our goodbyes and I can heard in the distance reporters practicing their intros for this breaking news and others yelling I love you through the rain, sounds of people rushing off and car doors close, and then you realize this stop is over.

My thoughts focus to time allowing us to get to the next stop so I do not have to feel the impact of separation from all that I just experienced, I will save that for later when the day nears an end and I am in private.

Monica Caison LYMI