April 18-24, 2004, is the 24th National Crime Victim Rights Week. This year’s theme, “Victims’ Rights: America’s Values,” recognizes that equal rights for all Americans means equal rights to crime victims. Victim service agencies in Benton, Sherburne and Stearns counties have planned a week of celebration, remembrance and recognition of the survivors of crime and those who work on their behalf. Child identification event The week begins with a child identification event at Becker Community Center, 11500 Sherburne Ave. in Becker. The event will take place from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, and is co-sponsored by the Jacob Wetterling Foundation. A personal ID record and digital photo will be created for children in attendance. Pizza will be provided to families who bring children in for the ID service. Kids can also participate in a poster contest with prizes for the best posters. The Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) crash car will be on display, and information from the victim agencies will be available. Living memorial program A social hour and program will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at the Stearns County History Museum, 235 South 33rd Ave. in St. Cloud. Remembrance quilts from MADD and Parents of Murdered Children will be on display, along with the MADD crash car. An hour-long program will begin at 6:30 p.m. featuring keynote speaker Lydia Newlin, Victim Services Coordinator with the MN Department of Corrections. Living memorials will be presented to Klinefelter Park, the ROCORI memorial, and to Munsinger Gardens. Accepting these memorials will be the family of Brian Klinefelter, the families of Aaron Rollins and Seth Bartell, and the family of Julianne Williams. The evening will commence with a drawing for door prizes. These events are free and open to the public. When you value our right to live in peace, you value victims’ rights and services. Please join us. These events are sponsored by Benton County Victim Assistance Program, Central MN Sexual Assault Center, Central MN Task Force on Battered Women, Jacob Wetterling Foundation, MADD-Stearns County, MN Department of Corrections, Parents of Murdered Children, Sherburne County Crime Victim Services, St. Cloud City Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Program, and Stearns County Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Program.
