Fairfax County remembers local people who’ve been victims of crimes. And on Sunday, April 6, at Fairfax Corner, they’ll be honored via the second annual 5K Walk and Candlelight Vigil.
The free event, in front of the movie theater at 4100 Monument Corner Drive in the Fairfax Corner shopping center, kicks off National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 6-12.
Each April, law-enforcement agencies, along with organizations and communities, join together to observe this week. The goal is to promote victims’ rights and honor crime victims and the people who work tirelessly advocating on their behalf.
Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin C. Roessler Jr. and Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh will welcome attendees and give opening remarks at 5:30 p.m. First, though, check-in and a resource fair featuring more than 15 vendors from local and national service providers will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
The participants include Dr. Will Marling, executive director, National Organization for Victim Assistance. In addition, Steve Shillingford and Peter Khan of the E and Me band will perform live jazz.
The walk will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the candlelight vigil honoring the victims, from 7-7:30 p.m. For more information and to register, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NCVRW2014. The first 200 people registered will receive free T-shirts.
The walk and vigil are being hosted by the Victims Services Section of the county Police Department and the Fairfax County Law Enforcement Foundation. And the community is invited to join the professionals who support local victims of homicide, trauma, sexual and domestic violence, child physical and sexual abuse, stalking, human trafficking and suicide as they walk together.
A related event during that week will be held Thursday, April 10, from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., at The Greene Turtle Restaurant, 3950 University Drive, Suite 209, in the City of Fairfax. Sponsored by the Fairfax County Law Enforcement Foundation, it’s a fundraiser for the Victim Services Section so it can continue meeting the immediate needs of crime victims.
Those eating lunch or dinner that day at The Green Turtle will have 20 percent of the gross proceeds from their meal donated to the cause. To participate, people must download an event flyer at www.fairfaxfoundation.org, print it and present it to their server when they order.
To learn more about the Police Department’s Victim Services section, visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/services/victim-services.htm.