The Editor,

I attended a meeting recently with Wayne Bell and his oldest son Lee. Wayne lost his son Devon Allaire-Bell in an act of violence at Frank Hurt Secondary school back on April 24.

It was a meeting to try to address, in some small way, violence in the city of Surrey. People told their stories and how they thought the city and the public might deal with the challenge of improving conditions and how police could be more effective in reducing violent crime.

It was heartbreaking to hear families step up and tell their stories of grief and of the obvious pain and anger in their hearts. It was made clear that there was nothing that could ever be done to relieve their sense of loss.

Jamie Kehoe's grandfather spoke. His anger was fresh and it was a surprise to some that someone from the family might be out in this kind of venue so soon after the tragic event that took his grandson.

But you could see his need to share his pain, it served as a release.

Then Maple Batalia's dad spoke. If there is anyone out there who loves his daughter more than this man, I don't know who.

Seven times this beautiful young lady was shot in the back.

Her mom sat just in front of me and I had to put my hand on her shoulder... she turned around throughout the evening and just talked about her little girl.

Then Maple's dad made a comparison that brought tears to most everyone in the room.

He made the point of how difficult fall would be from now on with all the beautiful maple tree leaves dropping to the ground - these beautiful leaves that his beautiful daughter was named for.

And then Wayne. He rose and moved to the front of the crowd and talked about his boy Devon. So eloquent. So heartfelt.

After I meet with him, I go home and hug my own kids right away.

Wayne explained that while there might be things we can do as a community, there is nothing we can do to bring these families "justice."

There is no justice for parents whose children are taken from them in such acts of cowardly violence.

While we might gather to build a plan to try to address violent crime, let us not forget a plan to try to ease the pain of families, to acknowledge the lives of those taken from us too soon.

If a city can spend $50 million on a new city hall that some feel surely isn't needed, then tribute to those taken from us must be most affordable.

It is why a group of concerned citizens has formed to clean up the park on the south side of Frank Hurt and are lobbying to have it renamed for Devon, a young man who offered so much promise to his neighbourhood and his community.

Hug your kids. Keep them involved. You stay involved. Know where they are.

Put the road hockey nets out and invite children to play. Put the computer in the kitchen.

And if you have to, take the doors off your kids' bedrooms.

Show them you care. Even if it takes a most extreme act. Don't let them believe that someone on the street cares more.

God's peace... Maple, Jamie and Devon...

Gord Fletcher, White Rock