Wednesday's hearing on Senate Bill 354 was encouraging, given the support we received from some members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Presently, there is no telling whether the Senate or House versions of our proposed diminution credit legislation will be let out of their respective committees this year, and I will blog more about the details of our expert testimony before the Senate in a later post.
But first, I wanted to share with you, in its entirety, the written testimony of Debra Harvey, the mother of Lindsay Marie Harvey, who made the 350-mile drive from Oneonta, N.Y., to Annapolis this week to give her testimony to the SJC members in person. I will say only this about it: it is one thing to read such testimony -- to hear Debra Harvey speak it in person was something else.
My daughter, Lindsay Marie Harvey, was born on July 19, 1982. With her birth, the most important part of my life began. Lindsay was wise at a very young age. She was loving, generous and sensitive. She was a gentle soul who treated all living things respectfully.
After her graduation from Binghamton University in December 2003, she came to your state, your community, to join the honorable work of the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory. As a DNA technician and a DNA analyst she worked with the multiple cases from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command Central Identification Laboratory and contributed to the identification of United States service members lost in World War II, the Korean War and Southeast Asia. Her work supported the mission that helped to end years of uncertainty and grief for many families -- your families, your friends, your neighbors, your countrymen and your constituents.
Additionally, Lindsay contributed to your community through her volunteer work in the public schools as a career day lecturer, science fair judge and after-school science program facilitator. She also worked as a tutor teaching biology and math to middle school students and as an adjunct professor at Frederick Community College teaching forensic biology.
She volunteered in the Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraiser for several years and donated time and money to animal rescue groups.
I am in awe of the number of people Lindsay helped, supported and touched in her four short years in Maryland. Her friends said her laugh was infectious. She worked hard, but made work the fun and stimulating for everyone. In her memory book her friends and co-workers repeatedly wrote, “Some people strengthen others just by being the kind of people they are.”
Her neighbors at the Grove Park Apartments in Gaithersburg said she always smiled and said hi and was polite and respectful when she was out walking her dogs.
One of her students from FCC wrote, “You could tell she loved what she was doing because of the enthusiasm in her eyes and the passion in her voice for the subject. She will be remembered as a passionate, dedicated professor. One who could spark interest in the unlikeliest of students; one who could make class exciting; one who could be approached with questions about anything related to class or life.”
Additionally, maybe most importantly, she never forgot or minimized the importance of family. In spite of her busy career and life in Maryland, she frequently drove home to spend time with her family.
Lindsay had the ability to make each person feel good about him or herself by understanding what he or she valued, then acknowledging and respecting it. She was everyone’s cheerleader.
Lindsay was a kind, thoughtful coworker, friend and neighbor to the people of your communities.
Much of Maryland borders our great nation’s capital. Does the Maryland General Assembly wish to attract, support and protect talented, intelligent, productive citizens like Lindsay Marie Harvey? Or do you wish to support violent criminals like Shawn Henderson?
Lindsay’s life ended in an unnatural, brutal, senseless way by someone who committed repeated acts of violence against other innocent people. The fact that he was allowed to be free to murder my daughter exposes serious flaws in the present legal and judicial system of your state.
Nothing will change the pain I will feel everyday for the rest of my life. I cry every night hearing her last words as she begged for her life. Every day I anguish over the terror she must have felt those last few seconds of her precious life.
For you, your families, your friends, your co-workers and your constituents, please examine your legal system. Then examine your conscience and vote for safety for the Lindsay Harveys of your communities.
If this does not motivate you to want to do something about the current state of Maryland's criminal justice system, then nothing will. Write to your state representatives and senators and support this legislation -- NOW.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment