Adornments represent homicide victims

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Christmas tree stands as a symbol of hope and joy this time of year. But one tree in Buffalo serves as a silent witness to tragic loss.

Each bow on Buffalo's "Tree of Life" represents a person, whose life ended in murder. The evergreen itself symbolizes the connection between their spirits and those still living... love, that never dies.

Willie Holman, who lost a son to violence, said, "Just to know the community is behind everybody... it don't [sic] seem like he's lost."

"It bothers me. Each and every time, around this time of year... Christmas Eve... she comes to my mind. She comes to my heart. And I feel as though something needs to be done," said Paul Johnson, a brother and uncle of homicide victims.

Gun control isn't enough, many of these survivors believe.

Cornell Griggs said, "We need to get our lives and our kids more into the family."

Gina Davis-Miller added, "When we were coming up, if we did something wrong and your mother had seen me, she was getting on me. Then when I got home, I got it again. But it's not like that anymore. Nobody wants you to talk to their children. And we've got to get back to that."

Change that deep may take a generation. It won't happen, unless we have the courage and willingness to work on our shortcomings... individually, in our families, in our society.

"Once we start within ourselves, we'll be okay. And that's where it's got to start. We can't blame it on the laws; we can't blame it on the Congress or the White House. We've got to look at ourselves, individually," Davis-Miller said.

A new support group for family and friends of homicide victims is starting. Meetings will be the second and fourth Monday of every month, at 6 p.m., at the Merriweather Library.

Trained psychologists and grief counselors will be available. For more information, call Stop the Violence Coalition at 578-7882.