Children plant daffodils to remember loved ones

"It wasn’t that long ago that I was talking with a friend who had lived at the YWCA," said Jones. "She is 7 years old and she came there to be safe with her mother and her brother. She asked me why do people fight? We talked about that and decided we do not have all of the answers, and we do not understand all of the answers. But we decided together that what was important was that at the YWCA people do not fight, and at schools, people do not fight, and a home, people do not fight.

"It is important to our community in keeping those places safe," said Jones. "So I want to make a promise to all of you today, that the YWCA will always be a safe place for you. In our community, the YWCA will work together with Mayor Becker, the GVPC, and with many other people to make sure that your schools, homes, and communities are safe. I want to thank Dee Rowland for putting this event together in conjunction with the "Week Without Violence," our annual campaign to bring awareness to violence in our community, and I think today is the picture perfect opportunity of hope that if we do work together, we will eradicate violence in our community."

LeAnn Banco, Riley Elementary counselor, said "We promote non-violence and we promote peace. There has been a lot of violence in the neighborhood and classmates have been killed. Their brothers and sisters have been murdered here in this community, and this gives them a chance to remember them. Every year when the flowers come up, they will think of them, and remember they participated in making the community a better place. This is very healing for the children who lost a sibling or a relative.

"We use conflict resolution, and so we are teaching the students the Steps to Respect Program so they learn how to get along with each other, and how to communicate without violence. Our country is at war, and there is a lot of violence in this community, so you need to start young to teach them there are other ways to solve problems besides using violence. They are really receptive at this age."

Steve Gunn joined the GVPC because he was concerned about the level of gun violence he saw in our society, and he was swayed by the fact that there did not seem to be any voice in Utah that was raising the alarm concerning unrestricted carrying and ownership of firearms.

"I could see the power of the National Rifle Association (NRA), but there did not seem to me to be any organization that was speaking out against seemingly unrestricted possession and ownership of firearms. I had not lost anyone close. I did not gain an interest because of a tragedy in my family, but I have great sorrow for those who have."

"I want to thank Dee Rowland who has been an incredible leader for us in this community, whether it has been gun violence, caring for children, or caring for people in so many ways," said Mayor Becker. I want to thank the families and the children who are here from Riley Elementary. I know you have suffered from the violence in your community and you are continuing to deal with that. I would also like to thank the YWCA and Keri Jones for making this event possible and for working so hard as it relates to violence throughout our community and in our families.

"Finally I want to acknowledge the anti-gun violence organization, who for many years have been working to establish policies at the state and local levels to limit inappropriate guns in our communities, which can only help but further the ability of all of us to live in a peaceful way. This is a sad day, but a day of hope."