September 25th is the National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims. During The National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims, advocates and community members commemorate murder victims and surviving family members. 

 

For the last several years, organizer Stephanie Belgard has hosted a Remembrance event on the steps of the Rapides Parish Courthouse. But this year construction has made the location unusable, as well as a closed-off levee amphitheater also under renovation. No one from the city or parish has offered to help procure an alternative location, causing the event to be canceled for this year. 

 

“We hope the construction is finished and we can carry on next year,” Belgard states in a public post. 

 

Vigils will continue to take place across the state as this day also honors the work of organizations that provide services, including support, advocacy, and counseling for families, individuals and communities coping with homicide-related deaths.  

 

Hopefully local leaders will prioritize and accommodate this event next year. Support is invaluable when going through a tragedy and when a group of grieving citizens band together they should be able to rely on community officials for help. 

 

The Families of Murder Victims Support Group meets monthly on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Westside Library. The group is open to the public and is for family members of homicide victims. Contact Stephanie Belgard at 318-229-9803 for more information.