PBMR : the New Creation
Crosses made by Greg Zanis for the 762 lives lost to gun violence in 2016 in Chicago
An Emotional Memorial by Sr . Donna Liette , c . pp . s .
It was December 31 st and nearly 1000 persons marched down Michigan Avenue in the cold to remember the 762 lives lost in Chicago in 2016 — mothers , fathers , brothers , sisters , grandmothers , crying as they searched for their loved ones cross : “ My brother , that ’ s my baby , that ’ s my mother .”
The 800 crosses were made by Greg Zanis , a man who said , “ My heart is broken .” He wanted to do something , and so he began making a cross for each victim of gun violence . What love ! He marked each three feet tall wooden cross with a name ( mostly young black males !). Beside the victim ’ s name , he marked the date of their murder and their age at the time of death . He started with cross # 1 — killed January 1 — all the way to # 762 .
As the march began , Fr . Denny Kinderman picked up Korry Roger ’ s cross ( one of our very own Precious Blood youth killed on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend , # 485 ). As the group walked down Michigan Avenue in silence , the name of each victim was read starting with January 1 st . Each name was precious : they were not called gangbangers , as the media often names the victims , rather they were people with families , with talent , with a God-given future , their flame extinguished suddenly by violence .
It was the hope of the organizers that people out walking the “ Magnificent Mile ” of the City of Chicago would feel the pain and know that this
Fr . Denny Kinderman holds Korry Rogers ’ cross
12 • The New Wine Press • February 2017