Homeless Memorial Day Names 2008
NEOCH hosted a small gathering of activists to remember those who passed away over the last year. This was the 22nd Annual Candlelight Vigil, and this was the largest number of names that we have ever read. Here are the names of those who lost the struggle this year. If you are a part of a religious congregation please offer your prayers or condolences for these individuals and their families.
Olu Akintunde
Anonymous
Charles D. Anderson
John Andresh
Ronald Armstrong
Cliff Barnhart
Rosemary Battle
Terry Beachman
Paul Bianco
Jacob Bobrowski
Robert Cherney
Ralph Duhan
Robert Eady
Barney Elias
Carol Fergus
Larry Gahan
Jacinda Glover
Carol Good (male)
Jack Hanrahan
Jesse Harris
Gary Hubbard
Joseph Irby
Thomas Jackson
James King Jr.
James King
Perry Kucinich
Rufuss Lenard
Mariam Lozada
Craig Lucas
Marnie Macon
Marion McWilliams
Thomas Milo
Robert Morgan
Bruce Morris
Mary Murphy
Melvin Nance
Robert Okragley
Donald O’Neal
John Pickell
Mark Pirtle
Thomas Rapose
Barbara Rossi
Calvin Sledge
Jeff Stoudemire
Lois Swaysland
Wayne Anthony Tyler
Anthony Waters
William Whalen
On one of the coldest days of the year, on the shortest day of the year, we gathered together in one of the best meal programs in the City to remember those who lost their lives. We joined 70 to 80 cities around the United States to mourn the loss of some of our friends. We look back at this rough 2008, and pledge to try harder to protect the lives of people in 2009.
Brian
Posts by Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless staff and Board.
1 comment:
Today it is Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior who was born into homelessness.
Since the posting of the list of names of those homeless who passed away (so far) in 2008, I have returned daily to reflect on these names, wondering who they were, their accomplishments in life and their circumstances resulting in being homeless.
I have so many questions.
Have I seen these people before on the streets of Cleveland, along Payne Avenue, at Trinity Cathedral for Sunday lunch, downtown at the library or at Public Square? Were they homeless when I was homeless?
It is just as tragic to see a list of names as it is to know their fate. A list of names is just as impersonal as a statistical number. Most of the grief I feel is because they are just a name, nothing more.
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