June 6, 2025
Tonight, I attended the National Gun Violence Awareness Day Vigil with my Sister, who flew into Columbus from Atlanta. Cindy came not only as a source of support but also to participate in the upcoming #WearOrange events. Wear Orange events are nationwide initiatives to raise awareness about gun violence, honor survivors, and demand action to prevent it.
Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children were asked to bring pictures of their “angels,” the children they lost to gun violence, to place on the VIP table. As I positioned John’s picture on the table, tears began to well up in my eyes. I still can’t believe that his face is now among many others who are no longer with us.
Before entering the room for the vigil, we wrote the names of our loved ones on white bags. Volunteers placed a flameless candle inside each bag, which would light up at the end of the ceremony in remembrance of the lives lost.
The Vigil
The vigil aimed to raise awareness of gun violence. It honored and remembered those who lost their lives, while also highlighting the efforts that people are making to prevent it.
I found inspiration in all the vigil speakers, including police officers and elected officials working to reduce gun violence in Columbus. I felt a strong connection to Sasha Bannister, a young mother who shared the painful experience of losing her 15-year-old son, Devon Bannister. In 2022, a young man, carrying a gun, shot and killed Devon.
Hearing this mother speak filled me with a strong wave of emotion, and I couldn’t help but cry. I felt every bit of her pain as she expressed her feelings to the audience. Her words transported me back to that dreadful moment when I learned the tragic news that someone had shot and killed John.
I was deeply moved by her entire speech, especially when she said, “People say time heals all wounds, but that’s not really true. Time just teaches you how to carry the pain differently. Some days, I carry it with tears; other times, I carry it with anger. And on days like this, I carry it with purpose.”
The evening concluded with a photo session. Malissa Thomas St. Clair, founder of MOMCC, always captures a group photo of mothers holding pictures of our Angels. She also snapped many individual photos with Vigil attendees to share on the organization’s social media pages.
This vigil was a deeply emotional experience for me. I found myself crying throughout as we honored our loved ones lost to gun violence. As I exited the building, I saw City Hall illuminated in orange in their memory, which made me cry even more.
When I look at John’s bags glowing with love, I remember the vigil organizer’s statement: “Every lost life represents a story that ended too soon.”
Truer words were never spoken.
Tomorrow we Walk For Peace…
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