Lexington Park, MD — “My hope is we don’t put another ornament on that tree next year.” St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron was talking about the ornaments on the Silent Angel Memorial tree that helps remember murder victims from the county. The annual memorial ceremony was held this year on Dec. 6 at the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall.

When the ceremony was over there were ornaments on the tree with the names of 73 murder victims. Two were added since last year’s memorial – Walter B. Dorsey, III, who was murdered in California Dec. 11, 2014 and Cody Lacey, who was shot and killed  July 25 of this year in Mechanicsville.

The ornaments were added to the tree either by members of the victim’s family, escorted by a police officer, or by students in the James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center Criminal Justice class as stand-ins for the family.

The 14th annual Silent Angel Memorial was introduced by St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Coordinator Cpl. Douglas Harris. He said, “It is time to reflect in your own way for one night, that we all remember.”

The invocation was delivered by Pastor Lawrence Crabtree of SAYSF Bible Church, who told the families that everyone was assembled in the spirit of love. He said, “Love trumps tragedy.”

Sheriff Cameron quoted former attorney general Eric Holder in saying that murders “diminish an entire community” and not just the individual families and friends of the victims.

Guest speaker for the event was Leon Russell, whose daughter was murdered in 1989 in the family’s home in Calvert County while he and his wife were away. Russell told of the toll on his family of worrying that the convicted murderer would be released on parole even though he was sentenced to life plus 15 years. Another parole hearing is coming up next month and he plans to attend.

But Russell said he didn’t want to have to look at the murderer of his daughter and was working through Delegate Tony O’Donnell’s office to arrange some type of barrier.

Russell urged all of the families to be vigilant in following the parole process. He said decisions on parole now go to the governor for a final decision but there is a legislative move afoot to remove the governor from the process. “I encourage you to get involved, to get notified of the parole hearings,” he advised.

Looking out on the audience, Russell said, “I am sorry there is such a large group here. It means many of us have lost a loved one.”

The names of all the victims on the Silent Angel Memorial are listed on the website: http://thesilentangels.org/

Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com