Candlelight vigil closes Domestic Abuse month

By Ms. Yvonne Johnson (Army Homepage)November 18, 2010

Candlelight vigil closes Domestic Abuse month
Army Community Service volunteer Natascha Duvall, left, and Stacie Beard, a prevention specialist with SARC, Inc., right, place white carnations in a basket during the Domestic Violence Awareness Month candlelight vigil at the Aberdeen Area Chapel Oc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - A solemn gathering in remembrance of the victims of domestic violence closed out the month-long observance of Domestic Abuse Prevention Month during a

candlelight vigil at the Aberdeen Area Chapel Oct. 26.

Aida Rivera, of the Army Community Service Family Advocacy hosted the program that included

remarks from Annette Sanders, a support coordinator who recently started the installation Survivor Outreach Program, and from Luisa Caizzo-Nutter of the Sexual Abuse/Spouse Abuse Resource Center of Harford County. Sanders shared a riveting story of her struggle to free herself from an abusive spouse and Caizzo-Nutter talked about SARC resources and services for women in Harford County as well as around the nation.

Attendees received battery-operated candles, which they turned on during the remembrance ceremony that featured volunteers presenting white carnations as Rivera read the names of Maryland victims of domestic violence over the past year.

"The message we send today is that we all are committed to making sure that we spread the message of domestic violence prevention," Rivera said.

Chaplain (Col.) Wayne Boyd delivered the opening prayer for the service and Mike Cashman, of the

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, sang "You Raise Me Up."

Remembrance readings for domestic violence victims were "I Got Flowers Today," read by Stacie Beard and "I Am No Longer A Victim" by Kimberly Williams.