THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 15, 1997 TAG: 9702150005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 48 lines
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a granite wall bearing the names of Americans who died in that war, has been much celebrated for its emotional impact and healing powers.
At 3:30 p.m. Sunday, another memorial wall, this one bearing the names of slain South Hampton Roads children, will be unveiled near the entrance to Rosewood Memorial Park at 631 N. Witchduck Rd. in Virginia Beach.
The wall, 6 1/2 feet long and 2 1/2 feet tall, is called the Mothers Against Crime Healing Wall.
As time goes on, it will bear the names of every South Hampton Roads child age 18 or under who is slain after Jan. 1, 1997. These are victims not of accidents but of crime.
Some verification is still being done, but Dennis Toler, family service counselor at Rosewood Memorial Park, said it appears four infants and one youth already qualify for listing.
``The wall's purpose,'' said Toler, ``is to serve as a central place for families to come for a form of healing. No other memorial park has ever endeavored to do this.''
The wall will be visible from Witchduck Road. Ideally, people will see the wall and wonder what can be done to halt the terrible violence.
We recommend that classes of school children visit the memorial and reflect on the price of crime and violence.
Last October, when the wall site was dedicated, Doris Rasheed of Virginia Beach, whose nephew died from violence, said, ``We brought children into this world, and we've got to do something to take a stand. Let us make our stand.''
At the same ceremony, Hampton activist Butch Gordon said, ``We have to bear responsibility for the complacency in our community. In one person, change can happen.''
And Jacqueline McDonald of Norfolk, who had two sons shot to death at separate times, said, ``These are God's little angels. They took them away and didn't give them a chance to live. We don't want these children to be forgotten.''
McDonald started Mothers Against Crime in 1990, after a second son was shot to death, in Park Place. The organization began as a support group for mothers whose children had been killed. It has about 30 members. McDonal estimates the group has helped about 100 people.
It's a terrible pity that we need a Healing Wall to memorialize slain children, but we do. Bullets are flying. Children are dying. At least they'll be remembered.