Well, as one might imagine it was a very emotional event as about thirty people or so gathered to remember Leah Freeman. The wind impaired the candlelight a bit but people rallied to keep their candles going as attendees spoke about their memories and impressions of a beautiful young woman.
Music played and tears flowed. Coquille PD had three representatives attend the vigil and Sgt Smith vowed that the department would follow the case to the end.
Tomorrow I will put up some pictures, it is late and I am a little weepy.
We miss you Leah, even those of us who never had the joy of meeting you. We miss you.
UPDATE: Here are some pics
WELL YA KNOW WHAT? THE SENTINEL HAS SCREWED UP ONE TOO MANY TIMES FOR THIS OL GAL. ENOUGH. OH SO SHE PLANS ON ONE FOR NEXT WEEK??? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I AM SICK TO DEATH OF THIS SHIT. JUST SCREWED UP HUH? YEAH. WELL SO DID ‘SOMEONE’ IN LEAH’S CASE. JUST SCREWED UP MY ASS.
Hey, the point here is to keep Leah’s name in the public eye. Finally caught up with Jean and she just screwed up, caught up in production problems. She plans to use a photo I gave her and some info – don’t terminate your relationship just because she had some problems, please. She really wants to see the case solved as you do.
OH NO NO NO NO NO NO NO – NOTHING IN NEXT WEEKS……BIT LATE I THINK. QUITE ALRIGHT. DONE WITH THE SENTINEL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PASS ON THAT ONE. THER JUST MAY BE PROBLEMS IF THEY TRY TO DO THAT ONE.
WELL NOW….DIDN’T THE SENTINEL JUST DO A BANG UP FUCKING JOB OF COVERING LEAH’S VIGIL. REAL NICE. OH YEAH – I GOT A REAL GOOD FRIEND IN JEAN….YOU BETCHA. PRETTY PATHETIC THAT LEAH FREEMAN LIVED IN THIS VERY TOWN THAT THE SENTINEL IS THERE FOR AND THEY JUST COULDN’T FIND THE TIME TO PUT HER VIGIL IN THEIR FUCKING RAG. WELL, REST ASSURED……THEY WILL SEE ME AGAIN…….I DOUBT SERIOUSLY THEY’LL LIKE IT VERY DAMN WELL.
k9maj1, like you I believe there are no coincidences and a lot of people, strangers once and familiar now, have been brought together for a reason … not the least of which is justice. Forces greater than anyone of us individually are converging and we will find that the sum of the parts are greater than the whole.
Leah knows her mom needs closure and we will see it soon
I am dedicated to the community as a whole.
Thank You very much I have been given the honor to serve you and your community. I also thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve Leah, like I told you before someone made me find your town and bring me in all of your lives for a reason.
Well thank you for that number BetteJo! – You really should leave that refresh button alone!!
On a more serious note: k9maj1 – I would like to thank you for lighting that candle for Leah oh so far away. So nice to know one was lit for her in another state. It means the world to me. I would also like to thank you for your support and interest and compassion in Leah’s case. I hope you get to come to our town some day soon too. We need more people like you right here in our town – people who care and understand and have as much determination as you seem to have. I for one think you would be a good asset to our community. Hope to see you some day soon. Thank you!
That is an extraordinary accomplishment, BJ, you guys have all done such great, hard work.
Leah’s Army should continue as an organization once the killer has been brought to justice to help bring closure to other unsolved violent crimes. It could be her legacy and our healing balm.
oops sorry hit the refresh button …didn’t want to miss anything…
This evening I was putting away the items for the vigil and setting aside the sign in sheet for use in the next few days on another one of my super secret projects(okay not so secret I am making a scrapbook) and I counted the names on the sheet and there are 49 people…plus I know of at least 7 people that didn’t sign in. why do I bring this up you might ask?well to tell you the truth I am pretty darn happy that at least 56 people showed up to honor Leah at that vigil! 56 people in this community care…56 people lit a candle in Leah’s memory…56 people showed heart…and 56 people is a good start to show this community that we all believe in Justice for Leah! I am heartened by this number and I hope that it continues to grow, because with each new day my determination grows with a passion. I love you Cory and I am so proud of you for hanging in there even though it has been excruiating and I am so proud of what Leah’s Army has accomplished!
i know i know
Maybe ‘some’ people couldn’t come cuz Gawd was busy a talkin to ther hearts.
member?
Hard to say, perhaps the officer was on duty as I believe those that attended suited up for the occasion but may not have been technically on duty. As to the missus, maybe she was chatting online somewhere.
YA KNOW MAGIX…..I’VE BEEN THINKING…..ABOUT THE VIGIL…AND A THOUGHT ENTERED MY MIND. OFFICER BRYANT OR HIS WIFE WERE NOT AT THE VIGIL…..HMMMMM…I WONDER WHY?
You are right, every little bit helps and your candle is most welcome.
There was good press coverage at the vigil and I firmly believe that keeping this case in the public eye is crucial to pushing our local law enforcement into moving on it. As to the city, it is changing and the old leaders are fighting it tooth and nail but change it will. We have four city council positions up for reelection, three of them have been on the council since the dinosaurs (or at least they look like it) and while I know they mean well, it would be great if they would step aside. At least one so far is hoping to re-up so we have to find some active community members to take the plunge and run for a seat.
One thing for sure, the community is not going to allow the city manager to choose just any old ‘good ol’ boy’ again. People are very, very concerned. The last chief was a very divisive character. So we do our best to get people to start attending the meetings but it is not easy.
I hope I do get the opportunity to come to your town, I am very exited in future opportunities. I think your police department is going in the right direction and hope the city officials, make the right choice in a new leader. I had a little thing here for Leah at the Catholic Church I am a member at, I lit a candle here in the sanctuary for her. Every little bit counts.
Hey, k9maj1, thank you for your kind thoughts. Like you I hope that the words of Sgt Smith are sincere in that the words translate into action on their part. What a different town this might be with different leadership at the PD and the city. Too long Coquille has been run by people with their heads in the past, people unable to adapt. The population has not changed in almost 20 years for that reason.
Thank you, again, and I hope we get to meet you in person someday
I wish I could have been there to show my support in finally giving you some closure. I hope this is the last year you go without someone being punished for this. I hope that the police is sincere in their quest to put this issue at rest. I hope if I get to come there to investigate this matter I don’t get stone walled by the powers to be. I will always have Leah in my thoughts no matter what the outcome of all this is.
Just being there for me means so much Mary……so don’t tell me you haven’t done anything!!!
If only ten people would have been there it would have been enough….I’m pretty sure Leah was very pleased with what we did for her! I know I am ( and was )! For those mothers that weren’t there I just hope they are all cautious as to where their children go and who they go with. Seriously……this cannot happen to another young life. It is far more painful than words can even describe. And I say that from my point of view…… try to imagine what Leah’s might be. Poor Leah.
I think Leah’s light was flickering ALOT brighter last night!!
Hey, I haven’t done anything. All I can say is you are living my nightmare and I really believe every mother in town should have been at the vigil because none of us would ever want to be in your shoes.
We will see what Mr Frasier does when the cavalry arrives this week…. his actions will determine our next course. That said, as you already know, I think Coos County could do better than Paul Frasier for a DA.
Leah’s light was flickering a little brighter last night, wasn’t it.
Hey Mary! Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for Leah’s case. I will say the candlelight vigil was a very beautiful memorial for Leah. It really lifted my spirits. I gotta say I can still hear Kay and your daughters voices in my mind. Kay you need to know that your words were so heartfelt and just absolutely beautiful. It really means the world to me when someone is that brave to get up in front of a crowd (large or small) in that kind of situation and speak their minds. You are a very special lady in my eyes. Love you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Mary – give your daughter a hug for me for her words please?
Like BetteJo I was very touched by Sgt. Smiths words and the fact that three CPD officers found it in their hearts to come and celebrate Leah’s life. That was nice. And again – like BetteJo – Father Karl was awesome. He was only being himself! – Now I am crying again! It was like when he entered the scene…….I felt the presence of Leah.
As for the D.A. Mary – no big surprise. I can think of only one event he has made his appearance at, and in the last eight years there have been many.
BetteJo, you did a wonderful and fantastic job, I am so proud of you. We could just feel Leah there. My thought is that she has intervened with the universe to bring us all together to help her mom find peace.
As Cory said last night, Leah know’s her mom is impatient, so we need to dig in hard and keep the pressure on the DA. Keeping Leah’s memory alive is a part of that process. Too bad Paul Frasier didn’t attend.
There were actually about 50 people as counted on the sign in sheet…about 40 people signed in with a known 10 people that didn’t. It was a beautiful memorial to a beautiful young woman. I for one appreciate the effort that the police dept made to appear and speak. Hopefully this was an indication of how with new leadership and determination this department will move forward and work for closure on Leah’s case. Also Father Carl was a blessing last night, what a wonderful person he truely is and his presence was one I was grateful for! Leah’s Army was founded a long time ago and now with added members and a renewed energy we will continue to gather our collective strenght and march forward in our fight for justice. To Sam, Trav and boys thank you all so much for your help couldn’t have done it without you! Much love to you Cory and thank you for allowing me to help honor Leah and your family!