The sun was shining on a somber event as community members, leaders and families gathered in front of the Alameda County Administration Building on Saturday, April 24, to remember the children who have died from preventable violence.

Passed by Congress in 2001, National Children's Memorial Flag Day is an an annual event designed to pay tribute to children across the United States who have been victims of violence.

“Of all the advanced countries, this county is the worst in terms of losing children to violence and Oakland loses the most children in the county,” said County Supervisor Gail Steel, in her welcoming address.

The Oakland ceremony, one of many similar events that took place across the country, opened with a precession by the Alameda County Fire and Sheriff's Departments Honor Guards, during which a special Children's Memorial flag was raised to half -mast.

Among those to address the crowd was Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts, who recounted memories of his three children as they grew up.

“Just think for a second if you lost all of that,” Batts said. “What drew me here was the pain that this community has [and] apathy about losing children has to stop.”

During the ceremony, the names of over 350 Alameda County children lost to violence since before 1994, were read by parents of the victims. Each name read was followed by the chiming of Tibetan prayer bells.

Olga Cade, one of the mothers who participated in the readings, was there to represent her son Edward who died in July 1994.

“My goal is to bring attention to the loss of life in this community and do whatever we can to make it stop,” said Cade.

Cade also went on to talk about her son, who died at the age of 17.

“He was killed trying to save a young woman who was being pistol whipped by her pimp,” Cade said.

“He was a great kid.”

She explained that Edward was about to go to culinary school on the east coast and his acceptance letter arrived just after his death.

Other community members, like Lisset Castro, whose sister Jasmin passed in February 2005, shared similar stories of loved ones trying to keep others from harm.

“She saved a friend who was in the middle of the train tracks,” said Castro.

Not all in attendance had lost family members.

“I'm here in support of everybody,” said Aminah Coleman, a friend of Cade.

Following the reading of the names was a chorus of Amazing Grace, led by vocalist Janet Whitaker. Ramsey Ismail played the bagpipes as the crowd sang along.

The 14^th annual ceremony ended with the release of white doves, as a symbol of hope.

“My children are gone, but I'd like to think that there's hope,” said Dolores Johnson, who lost her two teenage boys to violence.

For more information about National Children's Memorial Flag Day, visit the Child Welfare League of America online.