Annual candlelight vigil set for April 25

LIBERTY — The Office of Liberty County District Attorney Jennifer Bergman has issued a county-wide invitation to attend the candlelight vigil for crime victims and child abuse victims, which will be held on Thursday, April 25, at 6 p.m. at the Liberty City Hall at 1829 Sam Houston St., Liberty.

The purpose of the vigil is to help the public honor victims of crime, their families, and those who serve them to alert the public to the realities of crime and express hope for a less violent future.

The vigil is a part of the local observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is scheduled for the week of April 21-27. The theme of Crime Victims’ Rights Week this year is “Options, services and hope for crime survivors.” This theme will be observed by thousands of victim service and allied professional organizations and agencies across the United States.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be observed across our nation by victims and survivors and the professionals and volunteers who assist them. It is a time to honor crime victims and our nation’s progress in advancing their rights. This year’s theme — “Options, services, and hope for crime survivors” — celebrates the reason behind that progress and the ideal of serving all victims.

Another very important purpose of the vigil is to commemorate Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is in April. It is a time to focus on ways not only to protect children but also to prevent abuse from occurring.

This is your opportunity to make a difference in young lives. It is hoped that this vigil will impress upon every one that every child is entitled to be loved and that preventing child abuse is the responsibility of all citizens.

Child Abuse Prevention Month is an opportunity to highlight the role we all can play in supporting parents and families. During April — and throughout the year, as we raise awareness regarding child abuse prevention — our attention is best focused on prevention efforts that create healthier environments for children.

For additional information about Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Child Abuse Prevention Month, and/or the upcoming Candlelight Vigil on April 25, you are encouraged to contact Victim Assistance Coordinators Brenda Sanchez or Laurel Goodwin at the Liberty County District Attorney’s Office 936-336-4609.