CAMP HILL, CUMBERLAND COUNTY -
Dozens of people are came together Thursday night at the Camp Hill borough building to hear the stories of the victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Mary Kantz, of Plainfield, remembers her daughter, Melissa Conrad. She remembers being with Melissa when she died of multiple stab wounds inflicted by her ex-boyfriend in 2003.
A red cut-out silhouette stands next to Kantz in the assembly hall of the borough building. On it is a picture of Melissa and the story of her death in an incident of domestic violence.
"It's something you don't ever forget," Kantz says. "You live with it every day. People say it gets easier with time. It doesn't. It's every day of your life that you think about it."
Kantz is sharing Melissa's story with people gathered at an annual vigil organized by Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties.
"This is going to raise awareness, but we have to get much stronger, to speak out and say 'no more'," Pa. Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland) says.
Several red silhouettes representing victims of domestic violence stand in front of the room. Each has a unique story. Another story comes from the event's guest speaker. Going only as "Jill," she tells of the abuse and fear she suffered for years.
"A fear that unless you walked in the shoes of a victim, you cannot truly comprehend," she says.
The people in the crowd learned about services available to fight domestic violence.
"We need to make sure that we get the education out there," Pa. Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) tells the audience.
Even with more work being done, Mary Kantz still worries the violence may never come to an end.
"It's frustrating," Kantz says. "It seems nothing gets through to these people."
Mary Kantz, of Plainfield, remembers her daughter, Melissa Conrad. She remembers being with Melissa when she died of multiple stab wounds inflicted by her ex-boyfriend in 2003.
A red cut-out silhouette stands next to Kantz in the assembly hall of the borough building. On it is a picture of Melissa and the story of her death in an incident of domestic violence.
"It's something you don't ever forget," Kantz says. "You live with it every day. People say it gets easier with time. It doesn't. It's every day of your life that you think about it."
Kantz is sharing Melissa's story with people gathered at an annual vigil organized by Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties.
"This is going to raise awareness, but we have to get much stronger, to speak out and say 'no more'," Pa. Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland) says.
Several red silhouettes representing victims of domestic violence stand in front of the room. Each has a unique story. Another story comes from the event's guest speaker. Going only as "Jill," she tells of the abuse and fear she suffered for years.
"A fear that unless you walked in the shoes of a victim, you cannot truly comprehend," she says.
The people in the crowd learned about services available to fight domestic violence.
"We need to make sure that we get the education out there," Pa. Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) tells the audience.
Even with more work being done, Mary Kantz still worries the violence may never come to an end.
"It's frustrating," Kantz says. "It seems nothing gets through to these people."
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