House Passes Shadegg Resolution

House Passes Shadegg Resolution
Encouraging National Day Of Remembrance
For Murder Victims

September 25th Marks Occasion For Americans To Honor Memory Of All Murder Victims Washington, DC- Today, Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) announced the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution (H. Res. 223) he co-authored with Rep. Steve Chabot that encourages the establishment of September 25th of each year as a “National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.”

“Too often, victims’ families are left alone to cope with their loss and feel overwhelmed by the bureaucratic complexities of the criminal justice system. This resolution not only encourages the establishment of a National Day of Remembrance, but honors organizations such as the Valley of the Sun chapter of Parents of Murdered Children that provide support services and grief counseling to loved ones of murder victims,” said Rep. Shadegg. “Long after the story of a homicide fades from newspapers and television programs, victims’ families and friends are often left to mourn their loved ones in isolation. Today I have asked Members of Congress to join me in letting these families know they are not alone, and that as a nation we will remember the legacy of so many lives tragically cut short.”

Congressman Shadegg noted there are established days of remembrance for many occasions, including one for September 11, 2001 and the April 19, 2005 Oklahoma City bombs. “These are solemn times in our nation’s history. However, Americans are murdered every day and their families endure untold suffering. Every 10 weeks 3,000 people in our country are murdered, the same number of Americans brutally murdered on September 11, 2001. Congress must encourage establishing a day that honors the memory of all murder victims,” said Rep. Shadegg.

The vote was 369-0.

NEWS RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy Ruhe, Executive Director, 1-888-818-POMC

Dan Levey, National President, (602) 364-2235







For Immediate Release

May 14, 2007



CONGRESS ENACTS RESOLUTION HONORING MURDER VICTIMS

Cincinnati, Ohio--- The United States Congress overwhelmingly today approved House Resolution 223, which 1) Supports the goals and ideals of a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims and 2) recognizes the significant benefits of the organizations that provide services to the loved ones of murder victims.

The designation of a National Day of Remembrance For Murder Victims on September 25th of each year provides an opportunity for the people of the United States to honor the memories of murder victims and to recognize the impact on surviving family members.

The House Resolution was co-authored by Representative John Shadegg, (AZ) and Representative Steve Chabot (OH) to ensure that homicide survivors and their families are not forgotten. Representative Shadegg said “These are solemn times in our nation’s history. However, Americans are murdered every day and their families endure untold suffering. However, every 10 weeks 3,000 people in our country are murdered, the same number of Americans brutally murdered on September 11, 2001. Congress must encourage establishing a day that honors the memory of all murder victims.”

Dan Levey, the National President of Parents Of Murdered Children, Inc said “this day will serve as a important yearly reminder to the rest of the country of our loved ones who were murdered and it will help ensure our loved ones will always be remembered and never forgotten.” Levey, also added “we thank both Rep. Shadegg and Rep. Chabot for their unwavering commitment to seeing this resolution through the legislative process and for seeing its importance to survivors.”

September 25th was chosen as the date for the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims to honor Robert and Charlotte Hullinger of Cincinnati, Ohio who founded the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc, (POMC) in 1978 after the murder of their daughter Lisa, who was killed on September 25th.

Each year in the United States over 16,000 people are murdered.

www.pomc.com (Parents of Murdered Children)

-- submitted by Lois Vanderbur