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Homeless Dead Memorialized

Tribune file photo by GREG MITCHELL

Dorian Pham, center, her son Casey, 10, left, and Cheryl English, right, lit candles during last year's Homeless Persons' Memorial Day ceremony at Joe Chillura Courthouse Square on Dec. 21, 2006.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2007

TAMPA - A candlelight memorial service will be held Friday evening in downtown Tampa to honor the estimated 50 homeless people who died in Hillsborough County this year.

The annual Homeless Persons' Memorial Day service will start at 6 p.m. at Joe Chillura Courthouse Square, on Kennedy Boulevard by the Fred B. Karl County Center.

The service is interfaith and open to the public. The service will honor each person by name, with a candle lit for each. One large candle will be lit for those who died whose names are not known.

The number of men, women and children honored at the service has grown from 48 in 2006 and 41 in 2005.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and the Hillsborough County Commission have proclaimed Friday as Homeless Persons' Memorial Day.

Taking part in the service will be the First Presbyterian Church of Tampa, Congregation Rodeph Sholom and The Refuge. The Oratorio Singers will perform.

Being struck by a vehicle is the leading cause of death for homeless people. Among other causes are beating, drowning, fire and suicide.

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