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In Honor Of Those Often Forgotten

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By RAY REYES and CHRIS URSO

rreyes@tampatrib.com curso@tampatrib.com

Published: December 22, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - A bell echoed through St. Timothy Lutheran Church on Sunday, its high-pitched chimes accompanying a reading of the names of local homeless people who died this year.

More than 60 people attended a memorial service at the Tarpon Springs church to remember 14 people who died from illness, natural causes or violence. Similar ceremonies were scheduled over the weekend at St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Pinellas Park churches as part of National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day.

"We're honoring the people who died in Pinellas County while experiencing homelessness," said George Bolden of the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless, which helped organize the memorials.

The hourlong ceremony in Tarpon Springs included songs, prayers and hot meals prepared by church members. In lieu of flowers, people brought new socks and toiletries.

Daniel Walker, who receives help from the coalition and St. Timothy's, said the memorial service was a good thing.

"It makes people aware of a situation we have here in the states and in the world of people being in need," he said.

The Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County will host a memorial service at 6 p.m. today at Joe Chillura Courthouse Square, across from the county center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in downtown Tampa.

National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day has been observed each year since 1990 to remind people about the challenges facing the homeless, says the National Coalition for the Homeless.

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