August 24, 2024
I slept more last night than I have for the past three weeks so I woke up more refreshed. Cindy was in the kitchen making coffee when I woke up, so I went down to the kitchen to eat a light breakfast with her. I still didn’t have much of an appetite but tried to eat something every day.
I told her I was nervous about the news coming to the vigil tonight.
She replied, “You’ll be fine. Remember this is for John. He’ll help you.”
We arrived at Glen Rest at 6:30, to lay a few flowers on John’s grave and shortly after, others started arriving with their balloons. Channel 4 reporter, Brett Mills, arrived around 6:45 with his camera operator in tow.
He greeted us with a handshake and a warm smile. Brett explained they would be off to the side filming the vigil and to just act like they weren’t there.
“Yeah right!” Is what I thought but said “Okay.”
He then asked if he could interview me and Ronnie for the broadcast. I gulped and said “yes,”
To be honest, I don’t remember everything I said. I just remember saying, “Put the guns down and walk away. Walk away. Don’t Kill. Don’t kill.” of which part of it was the headline for the news story.
After our interview, which took place before the candlelight vigil began, I actually forgot the camera was there. The emotions and love took over. It was so beautiful and heartwarming. Many in attendance spoke and shared memories of John and of course, I cried along with everyone else.
Ronnie spoke to the children in attendance and asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. There were many answers including doctor, lawyer, astronaut, model and veterinarian.
He told them “You can do anything you want as long as you believe in yourself. The key is to stay focused and stick to it. Don’t let anything or anyone distract you to do things against the law because distractions can change the trajectory of your life, just like it did for the young man’s that took John away from us.”
The vigil was beautiful. Many in attendance spoke and shared memories of John and of course, I cried along with everyone else.
Here’s a few pictures from the Vigil and Balloon Release for John:
We returned home from the vigil around 10pm and watched a little TV to help unwind from the emotional day. The show was on the the channel which covered our vigil and at the end of the show, we heard the announcement, “coming up, friends and family gathered together tonight to mourn the loss of a man who was killed in a shooting last month…” I immediately got a lump in my throat.
“Hear we go” I thought. “I hope I can handle this.”
I watched with tears in my eyes and after it was over, I smiled as I said to my sister-mom,” I didn’t do so bad after all. I’m glad they were there to capture everything we did in memory of John.”
She smiled back and said, “It was great! I’m so proud of you.”
I will continue to be John’s voice.
His death will not be in vain.
Click the link below to watch our interview and read the news story:
‘Walk away, don’t kill:’ Family speaks out against gun violence at son’s vigil”
https://www.nbc4i.com/video/vigil-held-for-john-wilks/9983352
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