Speech by Rosa Hayes Florence for the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims

As the people were gathered around and with tears in their eyes, I said a speech that touched the homicide survivors in a way that could not be explained. The rain drops were slowely falling from the Heavens and the photos of the murder victims behind me, were just a reminder of how many people are murdered each day of our lives.

This is the speech that was prepared for the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. It was prepared by Rosa (Hayes) Florence.

My name is Rosa Florence and I stand here today in remembrance of all the murder victims. I am the step-mother of Gaje Jeffrey Florence. Gaje became a murder victim on May 19th of this year at the young age of six years old. Gaje is one of the many loved ones who will be remembered on this day.

I am part of a group that no one wants to be a part of. I am part of a group known as the homicide survivors. The homicide survivors are those who have loss a loved one by the hands of someone else. I am one of many who have had to suffer through this.

What hurts the most is not knowing what could have been and not wanting to walk through this journey in our lives. Having questions that linger, questions that we cannot seem to find the answers too.

You wake up everyday wanting to reach out to your loved one, but you are unable too. The loss goodbyes of not being able to tell your loved one how you felt about them.

I stood at the foot of my son's grave thinking about the memories that we had together and I realized that today is a day that he will be remembered. Today is a day that all of our loved ones will be remembered by others.

I am glad that there is a day like today. Our loved ones should not be forgotten and their memories should always be remembered.

This speech was dedicated to my son, Gaje Florence, and to all of the loved ones who have been murdered. With tears in my eyes, I walked away to where my husband was and people were coming up to me giving their condolences for the loss of my loved one but this time was different. These people are going through the same thing that I am going through.