Candlelight vigil to honor abuse victims

By: Donna Swicegood | Mooresville Tribune
Published: October 10, 2009

Last year, a more elaborate ceremony marked 10 years since the first A Wish and A Hope for Children candlelight vigil. Organizers of the annual event will get back to basics this year.

The event to remember children who died as a result of abuse will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Presbyterian Church of the Springs in Barium Springs.

Since the vigil began in 1998, more than 300 children in North Carolina have died at the hands of a loved one or caregiver.

The ceremony last year included a scrolling PowerPoint presentation with each of the more than 300 first names of those children.

This year, the simple ceremony will remember those children who died as a result of abuse since October of last year.

"The idea is to bring awareness to the community of child abuse fatalities," said Amy Eisele, director of SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now in Iredell County.

The ceremony, which lasts about 45 minutes, includes a reading of the first name of each child who died in North Carolina in the past year as members of the Mooresville High School ROTC light a candle for each child.

At the rear of the church, a child-sized chair, draped in black, will hold a picture frame with the child's name and age. For infants, a cradle is used.

Paula Patterson, who leads the vigil-planning committee, said the event is open to the public and anyone is welcome.