Remembering
Around 50 people gathered Thursday night to remember those who have died of drug overdoses in Butler County this year and in the name of hope for those whose struggles continue.
Charlene Eckert, a leader of Hope for the Broken Hearts, organized the fourth annual Overdose Awareness Candlelight Walk in Diamond Park and downtown. She said she thought 250 people would come out, but she was thankful for the number that did attend.
“I guess the cold must have scared people away,” Eckert said.
Grace @ Calvary Church was silent as the name of each victim was read, accentuated by the ringing of a bell after each. So far 36 have died of overdoses in Butler County this year.
“For those of you still fighting, please keep fighting,” Eckert said. “We don't want to read your name next year.”
The Rev. John Pistorius, pastor of St. John's Reformed Church, also spoke calling drug addiction a spiritual war.
“Any time I've done a funeral for a loss from addiction, it's unlike any other funeral I've done,” Pistorius said. “These were real people. These were people that were lost.”
Pistorius said addiction transcends society's classes and barriers.
“This isn't one section of society,” he said. “It crosses all barriers.”
Pistorius said part of the problem is removing the stigma of addiction from those seeking help. He also mentioned those who have the capacity to help but neglect people in need.
“We need people of faith to guide people,” he said. “Ultimately we're seeking to prevent addiction.”
Bill Bittner, an associate for Butler County Against Heroin, attended and said he hoped the eyes that opened Thursday night and saw that they were not alone.
“There's a lack of unity, of people coming together,” Bittner said. “When people come together, there's so much power there.”
“Washboard Tony” Frochio, who took part in the walk, said he survived cancer so he tries to be there for others.
“I support all of this,” he said. “I want to give back.”Frochio, a full-time musician, said he recently lost someone to addiction, a bass player and bandmate. He said he wants to help raise awareness, so people find the help they need.“There's a lot of recovery places around here,” he said. “There's hope.”Rob Wagner, a leader for Hope is Dope, said he wanted people to know about upcoming opportunities too.“It's a group from the community that helps educate people on different ways to produce endorphins,” Wagner said. “Basically happiness, doing things to make you happy.”Wagner said the goal is finding new ways to supplement the use of drugs through more constructive and healthy activities.“Every person we lose, diminishes the community,” Wagner said.As the night ended, people gathered near the fountain in Diamond Park and sang “Amazing Grace.”Some looked at the sky, others looked at the flame in their hands and some, some looked around or held one another.“Sometimes people don't make it,” Eckert said. “(But), recovery does happen, and it does work.”
