In commemoration of the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, designated by Congress in 2007, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan issued the following statement:
“Today, the Office of Justice Programs joins the families of murder victims and citizens across the country in remembering the thousands of Americans who have tragically lost their lives to murder. During the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, we are reminded of the many cherished lives taken by violent criminals every year.
Every murder dramatically affects family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers and communities at large – forever transforming their lives. Losing a loved one to murder causes excruciating agony and leaves an unimaginable void that lingers long after the news coverage ends. Survivors must also confront the wrenching and protracted ordeal of a criminal investigation and trial, which constantly reopens searing emotional wounds.
Yet we take heart in knowing that strength can be found in the comfort offered by compassionate victim service providers and peer support programs throughout the nation, many of them funded by our Office for Victims of Crime. They can be a beacon of hope in the darkest of hours.
I am also eternally grateful to our nation’s law enforcement officers and prosecutors who are so essential to the pursuit of justice and the safety of our communities. We stand as a nation with the families and friends who have suffered this gravest of losses, assuring them that we will never forget.”