Parents of Murdered Children Gather

(WOLO) COLUMBIA,S.C., — ” I never saw my self burying my child. it’s just not right.” It’s the event of the year no one wants an invitation to. Yet dozens of parents of murdered children gathered on the steps of the statehouse before marching through the streets of downtown Columbia to honor each of their loved ones taken from this world during senseless acts of violence. ” It let’s me know i am not alone. You have plenty of friends and family who will tell you it’s going to be alright but you don’t understand unless it’s actually happened to you.” This year – Lavone Scott was joined by others who have walked in her shoes. Many of them holding framed pictures of their children in their arms, others with faces monogrammed on their shirts. While each chilling story is different…the outcome, still the same. Each of these parents forced to face their loss one step at a time. One mother says ” it’s devastating. it’s a pain that never goes away. you learn to live through it day by day, but it’s always there. Brenda Gantt marched for her youngest and only son Gawayne Franklin was murdered at the ripe age of 25…that was in 2012. Lavonne Scott’s son, Brandon Jones was 22 when his life was cut short last January by complete strangers. Shot five times by a group of men who she says intended to burglarize a home he was visiting. Many of these families say the march isn’t about retribution – but healing devastating scars. Surrounded by a police escort and the engines of a motorcade – this group marches silently hoping its presence alone will on it’s own speak volumes.