The Candlelight Vigil
1999
Candles of Hope.
Candles of Change.
Candles of Prayer.
Candles of Love.
Candles of Hope we shine for you. Dear Precious Child. Burning brightness around the world. Lighting the darkness of this night. Candles of Support we light for you. For the parent of the missing children. To shed some brightness in your dark world. And reassure you, your not alone. We Care. Candles of change we shed for you. For you Mr. Senator. In hopes you see that change is needed. Our kids are missing, abused and defeated. Please we ask you light the way. Recognize the kids in May. Candles we burn bright. To guide them home. Those lost in the night. Missing, Abused and Exploited Children. Written by Tina Bapp, TinaBtalks@aol.com While many of us sat at home in silent prayer and and burned candles and porch lights, The front of the White House was being surrounded by parents, friends, supporters, and the media in hopes to bring awareness to Missing Children. Through the eyes of some of those who attended!: Through Steven, BaddTeddy's eyes Thanks Parent01@aol.com Maureen, Mother of Nadia.......who so kindly sent this to me. Comments from conference: Beautiful! .I send a great greeting to all and congratulations. Luis Guchea P.I.B.E. Argenitina At the very beginning of the Candle light vigil, just as I was lighting Brandi's Candle, a father whose little girl had been taken from him, came up to us, bent down to Brandi, looked at her with loving and caring eyes, and said "We are here, doing this for you." That expression of love toward a strangers child made me realize even more than before that this is no longer someone eles' problem. Kim United Editors I have arrived safely and this morning I am back in my tiny corner of the world, yet having experienced one of the most powerful emotional experiences of my life, I can say that today is NOT a typical day. I was so pumped up last night that it was hard to sit still in the airplane. I wanted to call you from the Houston airport, but couldn't find your number anywhere.On Saturday night in the sports pub I looked at the table and observed MY FAMILY! So many left-behind mothers and fathers who have gone through and continue to go through the same living hell yet, motivated by love, have found the inner resources to respond by struggling, and now we are UNITED and in SOLIDARITY as we fight the enemy! Saturday at the White House was one of the emotional apogees of my life. I observed the tearful embrace of you, Margaret, and Pat as the emotions became overwhelming. How I wish I could take some of your pain upon myself. All I can say is that I am rededicating myself this morning to our struggle, and plan to make it my life's work. Jeff Crafts Father of Amanda Abducted to Guatamala I just pray to God, that He will help me in making my small contribution in helping to locate their children and bring them back. Gloria Nyberg Child Watch of North America Sunday evening (5/16/99) I went into a 7-11 in the Baltimore, MD area. I was pleasantly surprised to be told by the clerk that he had seen our candlelight vigil on CBS TV in the morning and saw the parents, candles, the song "Who Hears the Cries" Craig Father of two I want you to know that that conference has permanently changed me on the inside in such a positive way. Cathy Texas Always Keep Your Dreams Alive Marilyn Vanished Children's Alliance I feel as though I have left my family behind. My tears have not yet stopped each time I recall your faces, your children's faces. I imagine they never will. If there were some way that I could give my own life to bring them home, I would in an instant. Suzywoo2 I have gained a lot of strength and getting stronger every day. at the time that I was quitting on my children I found the light of parent through you and this past weekend I realized that I have more friends than I thought. Sallie Mother of abducted children This photo compliments of: Allan Detrich, Block News Alliance. Click this thumbnail for larger picture Featured in photo: Maureen Dabbagh & Violaine Delahais (child abducted to Lebanon) Candle light vigil in front of White House May 15, 1999 Another letter from Ric, PossumExp@aol.com This online editor and child's advocate writes: I don't know really where to begin. All I know is I felt compelled to go to Washington, DC to show my support for these parents whom children had been kidnapped and they had not seen in years. Maybe this was because I have not seen two of my children in 9 years now. I will never know...I do know that this trip had more of an impact on me than I could have ever imagine...and it will stay etched in my heart, forever...and I will continue to go to a vigil as long as I draw a breath or until there is no need to hold these vigils. The latter is what I hope happens. I do hope that one day all the parents I seen there are happily reunited and that the last candle light vigil I attend will be for a reunion of happy faces of parents with their children that we were there for to start with.... I guess the best place is to start at is when I arrived at the conference Saturday. I awoke early Saturday morning. I had planned on just attending the afternoon session of the conference due to my back injuries, but when I awoke Saturday morning I knew I had to go then. I arrived at the conference and took my seat and listened. I saw more than I thought I would ever see. Parents, full of emotions, energy, and most of all anger, and hurt. Anger at a country that allows American born citizens to be taken to a country that doesn't recognize United States laws of custody. Yet the U.S. still has ties and relations with these countries and helps them thru their time of needs. I listened intently to these people and my eyes opened even more so my heart opened. I stopped feeling sorry for myself about not seeing my kids when Barbara Kurth told of her story. Of all the parents their that spoke Barbara Kurth and Maureen Dabbagh touched me the most. They didn't dwell on the fact that their children had been kidnapped to another country. They didn't dwell on the fact that they hadn't seen their children for X amount of years. What they dwelled on was what we as the people and what the government could do to change things to keep this heartbreaking tragedy from happening to other parents. As these two women talked I became more emotionally involved than I ever thought I could become. I then and there made a vow that I would help in any way I could. If these lady's could put aside their own pain in there heart to do for others, so could I. As a member of the Knights of Kindness I was thrilled to get to meet Steven Nunnally, the founder of KOK. A man that has started a campaign on line to help these parents, and I really don't think people know how far he does go to help them, or how big his heart is. I found out only after hearing him speak and seeing the inner side of a heart as big if not bigger than that of the universe. I left the conference with misty eyes, trying to contain my own emotions for the parents their. Little did I know I wasn't holding much back, as the candle light service would show. A little before sunset, people that were at the conference started gather in front of the white house. A reporter for MSNBC, ABC newsteam, and Insight Magazine reporters were there also. Small talk was passed, and a nervous laugh here and there. Greetings to people that had meet on the Internet because of the same cause. Hugs passed here and there. We were all filled with high emotions. Each deep in their own thoughts, but all for the same cause. The missing children. Then came the time for the lighting of the candles. A man, Craig A. Deanto, that has dedicated his time and effort to help in his way by making songs for the children and the parents picked up his guitar, started playing as we all joined him in singing a song he had wrote for this occasion... " WHO HEARS the CRIES " also know as "Custody Blues ." We were all united as one as we all sang, not once but several times. ( I caught myself humming this tune on the drive back from DC and reflecting back, and looking to the future also.) As the tension of some of the parents wore off the anger set in. After the anger, the emotions that were in each heart of the parents that had a child missing poured out. These are the same ones that I heard speak of how to protect others and what could be done to protect others. The same ones that did not dwell on their own children when speaking at the conference, but of how to prevent the same heart breaking thing from happening to others. I guess it is true. you can only hold it in for so long. That's when my tears came, for the parents that were there and for their children that were missing. My heart went out for these people that had more courage than any one I have seen. In my opinion, they all had held it in longer than I think I could ever have. I salute each and every one of these parents, and their courage to awake each morning to face yet another day without their child. We all don't know what courage and strength we do have till we come face to face with the realization that it has happened to us. No longer is it someone else it is happening to, but to you! The program we were given, has a little saying in it. It is a short paragraph, but it sums it up better than I ever could. Even tho the title says "Mother's" , there are single dads raising their children also, so I believe it goes for both. A Mother's Courage By: Jim Stovall from "Bits & Pieces" There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one lived in the lowlands and the other in the mountains. The mountain people invaded the lowlanders one day, and as part of their plundering of the people, they kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlanders families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains. The lowlanders didn't know how to climb the mountain. They didn't know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn't know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the steep terrain. Even so, they sent out the best party of fighting men to climb the mountain and bring the baby home. The men tried first one method of climbing and then another. They tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort, however, they had climbed only a couple of hundred feet. feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that the cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below. As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the babies mother walking toward them. They realized she was coming down the mountain that they hadn't figured out how to climb. And then they saw she had the baby strapped to her back. HOW COULD THAT BE? One man greeted her and said "we couldn't climb this mountain. How could you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village, couldn't do it right?" She shrugged her shoulders and said, "It wasn't your baby!!" ~~~~~~~~ I know many tourist stopped and asked what we were doing. I can only imagine what we really looked like to them. But..... To really top off the vigil was when a group of teenagers that were standing there watching us, joined us and even lighted a candle in support of us....they joining on their own shows that they, the future of America, care also... ~~~~~~~~ My friends,please forgive the spelling as the last half was done in tears. I hope and pray I will be able to help you in any way if you need it but I pray each night a silent prayer it isn't because your child was taken. Always here for you all....and forever here for the children. Ric This graphic by the wonderful SuzyWoo2@aol.com Let us not stop here....... so many fine internet friends have supported The Candlelight Vigil and May as Missing Children's Month! We still need you! PLEASE write your senator TODAY! ASK him to MAKE MAY National Missing Children's Month! Currently we have ONE Day. May 25th. Can you ever imagine one day for Missing Children? This is a horrible crime! Please help us MAKE MAY NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S MONTH! even after May passes, we can still ask for this request! So don't loose hope.........write your senators today via email and snail mail. Here is a link for extensive listings: Email and Snail Mail for Our US Political Leaders You May also Link to The Ribbons of Hope Campaign here: Ribbons of Hope........How to Participate! just click the link and go, much information is provided there! The Ribbons of Hope Graphics for The Candle light Vigil that I used on this page were created by a wonderful PSP Graphic Artisit..................ItsCherlyn@aol.com Thanks so much! Back to Woman's World Main
Dear Precious Child.
Burning brightness around the world.
Lighting the darkness of this night.
Candles of Support we light for you.
For the parent of the missing children.
To shed some brightness in your dark world.
And reassure you,
your not alone.
We Care.
Candles of change we shed for you.
For you Mr. Senator.
In hopes you see that change is needed.
Our kids are missing, abused and defeated.
Please we ask you light the way.
Recognize the kids in May.
Candles we burn bright.
To guide them home.
Those lost in the night.
Missing, Abused and Exploited Children.
Written by Tina Bapp, TinaBtalks@aol.com
While many of us sat at home in silent prayer and and burned candles and porch lights, The front of the White House was being surrounded by parents, friends, supporters, and the media in hopes to bring awareness to Missing Children.
Through the eyes of some of those who attended!:
Through Steven, BaddTeddy's eyes
Thanks Parent01@aol.com
Maureen, Mother of Nadia.......who so kindly sent this to me.
Comments from conference:
Beautiful! .I send a great greeting to all and congratulations.
Luis Guchea
P.I.B.E.
Argenitina
At the very beginning of the Candle light vigil, just as I was lighting Brandi's Candle, a father whose little girl had been taken from him, came up to us, bent down to Brandi, looked at her with loving and caring eyes, and said "We are here, doing this for you." That expression of love toward a strangers child made me realize even more than before that this is no longer someone eles' problem.
Kim
United Editors
I have arrived safely and this morning I am back in my tiny corner of the
world, yet having experienced one of the most powerful emotional experiences
of my life, I can say that today is NOT a typical day.
I was so pumped up last night that it was hard to sit still in the airplane.
I wanted to call you from the Houston airport, but couldn't find your number
anywhere.On Saturday night in the sports pub I looked at the table and
observed MY FAMILY! So many left-behind mothers and fathers who have gone
through and continue to go through the same living hell yet, motivated by
love, have found the inner resources to respond by struggling, and now we
are UNITED and in SOLIDARITY as we fight the enemy!
Saturday at the White House was one of the emotional apogees of my life. I
observed the tearful embrace of you, Margaret, and Pat as the emotions
became overwhelming. How I wish I could take some of your pain upon myself.
All I can say is that I am rededicating myself this morning to our struggle,
and plan to make it my life's work.
Jeff Crafts
Father of Amanda
Abducted to Guatamala
I just pray to God, that He will help me in
making my small contribution in helping to locate their children and bring
them back.
Gloria Nyberg
Child Watch of North America
Sunday evening (5/16/99) I went into a 7-11 in the Baltimore, MD area. I
was pleasantly surprised to be told by the clerk that he had seen our
candlelight vigil on CBS TV in the morning and saw the parents, candles,
the song "Who Hears the Cries"
Craig
Father of two
I want you to know that that conference has permanently
changed me on the inside in such a positive way.
Cathy
Texas
Always Keep Your Dreams Alive
Marilyn
Vanished Children's Alliance
I feel as though I have left my family behind. My tears have not yet stopped each time I recall your faces, your children's faces. I imagine they never will. If there were some way that I could give my own life to bring them home, I would in an instant.
Suzywoo2
I have gained a lot of strength and getting stronger every day.
at the time that I was quitting on my children I found the light of
parent through you and this past weekend I realized that I have more
friends than I thought.
Sallie
Mother of abducted children
This photo compliments of:
Allan Detrich, Block News Alliance.
Click this thumbnail for larger picture
Featured in photo:
Maureen Dabbagh & Violaine Delahais (child abducted to Lebanon)
Candle light vigil in front of White House May 15, 1999
Another letter from Ric, PossumExp@aol.com
This online editor and child's advocate writes:
I don't know really where to begin. All I know is I felt compelled to go to Washington, DC to show my support for these parents whom children had been kidnapped and they had not seen in years. Maybe this was because I have not seen two of my children in 9 years now. I will never know...I do know that this trip had more of an impact on me than I could have ever imagine...and it will stay etched in my heart, forever...and I will continue to go to a vigil as long as I draw a breath or until there is no need to hold these vigils. The latter is what I hope happens. I do hope that one day all the parents I seen there are happily reunited and that the last candle light vigil I attend will be for a reunion of happy faces of parents with their children that we were there for to start with....
I guess the best place is to start at is when I arrived at the conference Saturday. I awoke early Saturday morning. I had planned on just attending the afternoon session of the conference due to my back injuries, but when I awoke Saturday morning I knew I had to go then.
I arrived at the conference and took my seat and listened. I saw more than I thought I would ever see. Parents, full of emotions, energy, and most of all anger, and hurt. Anger at a country that allows American born citizens to be taken to a country that doesn't recognize United States laws of custody. Yet the U.S. still has ties and relations with these countries and helps them thru their time of needs.
I listened intently to these people and my eyes opened even more so my heart opened. I stopped feeling sorry for myself about not seeing my kids when Barbara Kurth told of her story.
Of all the parents their that spoke Barbara Kurth and Maureen Dabbagh touched me the most. They didn't dwell on the fact that their children had been kidnapped to another country. They didn't dwell on the fact that they hadn't seen their children for X amount of years. What they dwelled on was what we as the people and what the government could do to change things to keep this heartbreaking tragedy from happening to other parents. As these two women talked I became more emotionally involved than I ever thought I could become. I then and there made a vow that I would help in any way I could. If these lady's could put aside their own pain in there heart to do for others, so could I.
As a member of the Knights of Kindness I was thrilled to get to meet Steven Nunnally, the founder of KOK. A man that has started a campaign on line to help these parents, and I really don't think people know how far he does go to help them, or how big his heart is. I found out only after hearing him speak and seeing the inner side of a heart as big if not bigger than that of the universe.
I left the conference with misty eyes, trying to contain my own emotions for the parents their. Little did I know I wasn't holding much back, as the candle light service would show.
A little before sunset, people that were at the conference started gather in front of the white house. A reporter for MSNBC, ABC newsteam, and Insight Magazine reporters were there also. Small talk was passed, and a nervous laugh here and there. Greetings to people that had meet on the Internet because of the same cause. Hugs passed here and there. We were all filled with high emotions. Each deep in their own thoughts, but all for the same cause. The missing children. Then came the time for the lighting of the candles.
A man, Craig A. Deanto, that has dedicated his time and effort to help in his way by making songs for the children and the parents picked up his guitar, started playing as we all joined him in singing a song he had wrote for this occasion... " WHO HEARS the CRIES " also know as "Custody Blues ."
We were all united as one as we all sang, not once but several times. ( I caught myself humming this tune on the drive back from DC and reflecting back, and looking to the future also.)
As the tension of some of the parents wore off the anger set in. After the anger, the emotions that were in each heart of the parents that had a child missing poured out. These are the same ones that I heard speak of how to protect others and what could be done to protect others. The same ones that did not dwell on their own children when speaking at the conference, but of how to prevent the same heart breaking thing from happening to others. I guess it is true. you can only hold it in for so long. That's when my tears came, for the parents that were there and for their children that were missing. My heart went out for these people that had more courage than any one I have seen.
In my opinion, they all had held it in longer than I think I could ever have. I salute each and every one of these parents, and their courage to awake each morning to face yet another day without their child.
We all don't know what courage and strength we do have till we come face to face with the realization that it has happened to us. No longer is it someone else it is happening to, but to you!
The program we were given, has a little saying in it. It is a short paragraph, but it sums it up better than I ever could. Even tho the title says "Mother's" , there are single dads raising their children also, so I believe it goes for both.
A Mother's Courage
By: Jim Stovall from "Bits & Pieces"
There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one lived in the lowlands and the other in the mountains. The mountain people invaded the lowlanders one day, and as part of their plundering of the people, they kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlanders families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains. The lowlanders didn't know how to climb the mountain. They didn't know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn't know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the steep terrain. Even so, they sent out the best party of fighting men to climb the mountain and bring the baby home.
The men tried first one method of climbing and then another. They tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort, however, they had climbed only a couple of hundred feet. feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that the cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below. As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the babies mother walking toward them. They realized she was coming down the mountain that they hadn't figured out how to climb. And then they saw she had the baby strapped to her back. HOW COULD THAT BE? One man greeted her and said "we couldn't climb this mountain. How could you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village, couldn't do it right?"
She shrugged her shoulders and said, "It wasn't your baby!!"
~~~~~~~~
I know many tourist stopped and asked what we were doing. I can only imagine what we really looked like to them. But.....
To really top off the vigil was when a group of teenagers that were standing there watching us, joined us and even lighted a candle in support of us....they joining on their own shows that they, the future of America, care also...
My friends,please forgive the spelling as the last half was done in tears. I hope and pray I will be able to help you in any way if you need it but I pray each night a silent prayer it isn't because your child was taken.
Always here for you all....and forever here for the children.
Ric
This graphic by the wonderful SuzyWoo2@aol.com
Let us not stop here.......
so many fine internet friends have supported The Candlelight Vigil and May as Missing Children's Month!
We still need you!
PLEASE write your senator TODAY!
ASK him to MAKE MAY National Missing Children's Month!
Currently we have ONE Day.
May 25th.
Can you ever imagine one day for Missing Children?
This is a horrible crime!
Please help us
MAKE MAY NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S MONTH!
even after May passes, we can still ask for this request!
So don't loose hope.........write your senators today via email and snail mail.
Here is a link for extensive listings:
Email and Snail Mail for Our US Political Leaders
You May also Link to The Ribbons of Hope Campaign here:
Ribbons of Hope........How to Participate!
just click the link and go, much information is provided there!
The Ribbons of Hope Graphics for The Candle light Vigil that I used on this page were created by a wonderful PSP Graphic Artisit..................ItsCherlyn@aol.com
Thanks so much!
Back to Woman's World Main