Day of Remembrance memorial held Sunday

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Sept. 25 is the National Day of Remembrance of Murder Victims.

A number of people gathered on the steps of the Kent County courthouse at 2 p.m. on Sunday to share and honor murdered loved ones.

Family and friends of those murdered brought pictures of their loved ones and said their names. They also held a small candlelight vigil.

The event, organized by Chris Crandle of Rockford, was an opportunity for people who share that unique pain to remember together.

"At least you know you're not alone in your loss of a loved one,"said Maria Kozminski, whose son Officer Robert Kozminski of the GRPD was killed more than four years ago in the line of duty.

The memorial this year also had a focus on the seven people killed by Roderick Dantzler in July.

Crandle remembered her friend Renee Pagel, who was murdered in 2006. Pagel's killer was never caught.

According to FBI statistics, more than 166,000 people were victims of murder or manslaughter between 2000 and 2009 nationwide.

The National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims was first held in 2007.

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Learn more about the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.

The Day of Remembrance is sponsored by  The National Center for Victims of Crime and The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc.