‘Light of Hope’ will mourn local victims of drunken driving

The parish MADD Chapter issues a special invitation to all who have been directly affected by a drunk driver to attend a “Light of Hope” observance ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14.
The ceremony will be held at The Lamp Post Event Center, 735 Main St. in Franklin.
Guest speaker for the event will be 16th Judicial District Judge-elect Lewis Pitman.
Featured at the “Light of Hope” ceremony will be a solemn time of recognition and remembrance for all of those who have been affected by a drunk driver. The MADD chapter encourages any and everyone who life has been changed by a drunk driving crash to attend and light a candle in honor or memory of their loved one.
Also part of the ceremony will be a time to honor the “Top Cops” of St. Mary from the seven parish law enforcement agencies, as well as State Police Troop I. These officers are being honored for their diligence in removing impaired drivers from our roads and highways.
Statistics show that, unfortunately, there are many people in and around St. Mary Parish who have been directly affected by a drunk driver. At one time, this parish lead the state with a 100 percent annual statistic of alcohol-related fatalities —- in one calendar year all traffic fatalities that occurred inside this parish were the direct result of someone who chose to drink and drive.
Families have been torn apart; lives have been lost; debilitating injuries prevail; not to mention the high cost of automobile insurance and medical expenses.
For these reasons and more, the local MADD Chapter is joining cities and towns across America to promote the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month Campaign, an initiative of the National Highway Safety Commission.
This annual event is open to the public.