Safe House to hold victims vigil Oct. 17

Safe House for Women holds a private candlelight vigil each year to remember victims of domestic violence and celebrate those who survived abuse.

On Oct. 17, in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Safe House for Women will be holding a public vigil at the gazebo of the Cape Girardeau Common Pleas Courthouse. It will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., rain or shine.

The idea behind having a public event is to help raise awareness of the effect domestic violence has on the community and to drive home the fact that it occurs in every community, said Linda Garner, director of Safe House for Women.

City and county officials will be attending the event, which pays tribute to those who lost their lives to domestic violence as well as celebrates the efforts of those who survived.

"It's about the impact of recognizing that it does happen in a community and it is a public health issue that affects all citizens in a community," Garner said.

The private vigil will still be held at the shelter's undisclosed location, for those who do not feel comfortable attending a public event, Garner said.

Domestic violence survivor Angie Rice, who will deliver the keynote speech at the vigil at the courthouse, said she intends to focus on the aftermath of her ordeal.

"I'm not going to just tell my story; everyone's heard that," Rice said. "I'm going to talk about what it's like to move on -- offer them hope that there is life after domestic violence."

There have been ups and downs to moving on with her life in the wake of suffering domestic abuse, Rice said.

"It was awful, but it was the beginning of a whole new life free from abuse, and more doors have opened than have closed," she said.

She's attended conferences in Washington, D.C., where she's had the opportunity to speak about domestic violence issues, including the need for shelters and economic empowerment.

Recently Rice, a former journalist, decided to return to school to pursue a new career in social work.

Though she's been living with a family member, by Thanksgiving Rice and her two daughters, who are 5 and 6, will be moving into their new house.

"Learning to cope with the bad times is something that has been hard," Rice said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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