A pinch of pink with a touch of teal, a pint of purple with an ounce of orange painted delicately on a pale blue backdrop we call the sky.  The mighty and powerful sun looks calm and gentle as it settles down for its evening nap.  As the strength and power of darkness engulfs the land, a small candle glows peacefully and not afraid.  The light shining a glow is there to remember a soul of a long time ago.  The old times of the past to the times that are here and now, these candles are a symbol of loved ones that have gone.  Imagine, if you can, a room filled with candles burning brightly each with a different story to tell. 

  The red one tells of a little boy playing in the summer’s heat.  All hot and sweaty, as any little boy hears the sound of a bell yells, “Ice Cream.”  Now running down the street just thinking of all the delicious flavors like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or pecan.  But before he hears the bell again there is a loud sound of tires squealing and he feels a thump.  All is black, all is quiet, the little boy hears a voice that sounds like his mother saying, “My baby is now at peace.” 

  Now listen to this pink candle as it tells you about a little six-year-old girl picking wildflowers from behind her house.  A red tulip to brighten her brother’s hospital room, and there’s a rose, he’ll like that.  She turns towards the when two voices break her thoughts.  At the side of one man was the most beautiful purple flower, her brother’s favorite color.  She starts towards them but stops when they begin to shove each other.  One man pulls out a gun as the other man ducks away.  Terror and horror fill her veins, and she freezes in fear.  She can’t move, she can’t run for she feels a new type of pain as she feels the coldness of the ground.  The two men run away as she felt her own blood, all she wanted was that flower but now she is gone. 

     Let’s look at this white one, a sign of peace, as it tells of a boy’s birthday party and the new sneakers he always wanted.  As he opens the box his face lights up for there are these sneakers.  A thank you  rings out, as does a cheer.  He tries them on and wears them proudly to school and the park to a friend’s home and everywhere he goes.  Two days later, on his way home from school, he hears the school bully behind him saying, “Give me your shoes.”  He takes off like a flash but the bully is gaining near.  A pain in his stomach, then one in his side, a gash in his knee and a slash across his eye.  He can’t move a muscle as everything turns red, but the pain is starting to go away as he feels his sneakers torn away off his feet.  Now all feeling is gone and the red turns to black for then he sees a light and wonders where he went. 

  Violence is present in our society and has been since the dawn of time.  It is in our hands now and it is our choice what we do with this.  There is a saying that one man can make a difference, which is true, but it will take all mankind to defeat this strongest enemy of ours.