Domestic violence claims the lives of more than six people a day in the United States. Unfortunately, most of these deaths are largely unnoticed as domestic violence is too often considered a "private" matter.
In Rock Island, IL, local residents believe the lives lost from domestic violence should be celebrated. Each June, for the past seven years, local organizations have sponsored "Flowers on the River" at a riverfront park to recognize the lives of those killed by domestic violence and raise awareness of issues related to violence.
During the program, the names of those killed by domestic violence during the previous year, are read aloud and a flower is placed Mississippi River in their memory.