LAKEPORT — Lake Family Resource Center staff honored a “Woman of Distinction” and a “Law Enforcement Officer of Distinction” Monday in its annual domestic violence event held to honor domestic abuse victims.
LFRC is the Lake County”s primary resource for victims of domestic violence, and as part national Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) it has held a candlelight vigil every year to honor victims. This year, the event was moved inside because of inclement weather in past years.
The event began with a message from Congressman Mike Thompson delivered by field representative Brad Onorato, emphasizing the importance of looking at the issue of domestic violence.
Guest speaker and author Anita Swanson related her own experience as a victim, and imparted words of hope and encouragement for the audience.
Retiring California Highway Patrol Officer Mary Bosserman was honored as the Woman of Distinction.
“She would come to our candlelight vigils,” said Program Administrator Janine Smith-Citron, “and she was so powerful because she would come in her uniform and speak about her own survivorship and the significance of the issue of domestic violence in our county.”
Bosserman said she would volunteer in the community after her retirement.
“That”s all I want to do is to be able to help my brothers and my sisters, and anyone else who needs it. That”s what it”s all about, and God willing, we can all do that for each other,” Bosserman said as she received her award.
LFRC chose Lake County Deputy Derick Navarro as Law Enforcement Officer of Distinction this year because of his professionalism and courtesy in responding to domestic violence calls, said Smith.
Navarro”s comment was short and simple: “I believe in what I do.”
Smith explained that both were chosen because they had gone “above and beyond” in service to the community.
The event concluded with a candle lighting ceremony, in which Director of Programs Rae Eby-Carl first lit three candles. The first was to honor “those not here, those who have suffered over eons, those who have suffered last week, those who have suffered this morning.”
Eby-Carl lit the second candle for the present, because, she said, “Today we”re strong.”
The third, said Eby-Carl, was for the future victories to come.
Audience members were asked to light a candle for a victim of domestic violence as part of the closing ceremony.
LFRC Executive Director Gloria Flaherty closed with words of challenge for the community.
“In the last couple of years there have been too damn many deaths from domestic violence,” she said. “We”re better than that. I know our community can and will come together to stop this.”
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
