HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Larry Flaccamio Foundation hosted their 9th annual "Honoring Our Angels" event at the Dr. Richard Showers Sr. Recreation Center in Huntsville on Saturday.
Losing a family member is one of the biggest heartbreaks one can face, especially when the timing is described as too soon.
"My son was 16 when he was murdered," said Larry Flaccamio Foundation founder Donna Howell. "It's the hardest thing that I've ever had to endure," said Teresa Crutcher, a parent who lost her son in 2019.
Parent Lavar Moore shares his daughter only brought love into the world before she died five years ago. "She loved you. She loved me. She loved them. She loved everybody. She just with a great, great person," said Moore.
It wasn't just parents who've lost their children in attendance at Saturday's event. Jalayiah Crutcher lost her father in 2019. "He died when I was two years old," said Jalayiah. She knows she will always be, "Daddy's Princess," said Jalayiah.
Howell says this event is not just to honor her son, it's also to raise awareness of kids dying too young. "This foundation services not just young murder victims families, but kids at risk as well," said Howell.
Howell says now is the time to realize the rising issue in the community. "You can look the other way all you want, but it's a growing problem," said Howell, "Our young people are killing our young people."
Families gathered to share stories and continue the legacies of their lost ones. Howell lost her son almost 10 years ago and knows what some of these people are going through. "This is something that will go the rest of your life," said Howell, "You don't ever get over this."