National Crime Victims Rights Week 4/18/10-4/24/10

On the campus of Farmingdale State College is the MADD Garden of Awareness Memorial and Wall of Remembrance.  This was established to honor and memorialize the victims of drunk drivers.  In recognition of National Crime Victims Rights Week, we gathered in the garden to cry, to console each other, to honor our sons, daughters, husbands, wives and friends, and to have all of their names read.  It was the first time Jim and I had attended this ceremony.  Quiet tears streamed down many faces and I was glad that I had worn sunglasses.  The mournful tune of the bagpipes added to the emotion.

I knew that I would hear Matt's name, but I did not realize that they would go through all of the names on the wall.  Matt joins, Matt Marino, Mike's friend who was riding his bike in his neighborhood, when he was struck by a teeenage driver, who had been drinking in a neighborhood park.  Matt Marino did not die instantly, but lived to the next day.  Matt Marino was 11 and had played soccer with Mike.  Frank "Stormin" Gorman was a soccer hero for  Hofstra.  His mother was a bit of a legend herself with the Brentwood Soccer Club.  Frank was 26.  Matt would not have remembered either of these two young victims.  Matt was 2 when Matt Marino was killed.  Althought Matt played for Brentwood United for three years, I do not think he ever met Frank Gorman.  Matt was just 19 when he became a victim himself.  National Crime Victims Rights should be designated for longer than a week.  Drunk drivers kill 3 year olds and 74 year olds.  They do not discriminate based on age, sex, race, religion, economics or what you had left unfinished in life.  Now they are forever linked together-victims of terrorists who struck and killed them.  There is a bit of a September 11th feel to this.  The police officers are victims too.