SEQUIM — At the intersection of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street on Thursday afternoon, two women called for solidarity.
Becca Korby, executive director of Healthy Families of Clallam County, and Sequim Mayor Laura Dubois stood together on this busy corner, surrounded by the names and stories of 44 Washingtonians killed by husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends and wives — the victims of domestic violence between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009.
Korby read the names of the dead, who range from a 62-year-old man murdered by his girlfriend to a 36-year-old woman killed by her former spouse.
“This is a reminder,” she said.
Domestic and sexual violence “happen every day, somewhere. And the only way it will stop is when we as individuals make it stop,” by reporting abuse, helping victims find support and seeking the education that prevents abuse.
“Becca and her staff work to help,” Dubois added, “but we need to help, too . . . we all deserve to live in harmony and in a healthy community.”
At the close of the vigil, Dubois turned to another woman who has devoted herself to helping people affected by domestic violence.
Maris Turner, a Sequim police officer since 2000, received the 2009 Sequim Gratitude Award from Healthy Families and Clallam County’s Sexual and Domestic Violence Task Force.
Turner is the Sequim force’s emergency preparedness coordinator, crime prevention specialist and public information officer, and she serves as an on-call emergency medical technician for Olympic Ambulance.
Through it all, Dubois said, “she brings a sense of compassion and understanding to the residents she serves.”
Korby added that as a police officer, Turner will too often see the ugliness of domestic violence up close, along with the pain it causes the families of the abused.
But public safety officers and other advocates guide victims to community resources, and those resources have helped thousands of people start new lives, Korby said.
“The beautiful part is there is survivorship. There is healing from these horrible wounds.”
To learn more about Healthy Families’ domestic violence prevention, advocacy and sheltering programs or to volunteer or to make a donation, phone 360-452-3811 or e-mail healfam@olypen.com.
Healthy Families also provides help through a crisis line, staffed 24 hours a day by trained volunteers, at 360-452-4357.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladaily news.com.
