As we drove to Louisiana I asked Monica why she had picked Troy Marks to be the "honoree" of this year's tour, and while the answer made perfect sense...she picked a case that she felt needed the most media exposure..it wasn't the answer I was expecting. My logical side thought it would be logistics, the middle of the route; and my emotional side thought it would be a family that had most touched her heart. But it was Monica and this is an awareness tour.
Troy's boys were full of smiles and waiting for us in the parking lot. They seemed so grown up (they looked to be about 8 and 10), as they led us into the church. A projector was playing images of the Marks' family. There were assembled missing persons posters, and a table dedicated to photos and albums of Troy. A lot of people were there, I was taken back by the amount of children. Ashley, Troy's wife, came over wanting Road Tour T Shirts for her boys and herself. They immediately changed into them before the rally began. Ashley ran what seemed to be a very thought out and organized program. As she spoke of her husband, her family's journey, one that began with her husband's disappearance in 2006, you could see how far she had come. She spoke of no longer running every time the phone rings or rushing to return every missed call. She spoke of attempting to make a life for her boys, with her boys, one devoid of their much loved father. Troy Jr rose to speak. He told about how his friends talk about their fathers. When he is asked, "What is your dad like", he can only say that he doesn't know..Ashley then introduced the the families of 2 other local missing persons. We heard the stories of Shane Fell, a 36 year old man who disappeared in June 2011, and Sylviane Lozado, a foreign language teacher who vanished in July 2011. Sylviane's husband has taken her toddler and left the country. The difference between Ashley's composure and the others was apparent. Fresh vs longterm... A process no family should live through...As the program ended we were led outside for a balloon release. It was then that I realized that a lot of the children present were student's from the school Sylviane taught at.
Along with the balloons were Chinese lanterns. The area quickly filled with many attempting to light these. Watching as each one rose and flew away, the flames visible underneath, was exceptionally moving. We attempted a group picture on the a bridge, but I could not capture such a large group in one shot one my cell camera.
As I went back into the church to pack up I came across 4 individuals gathered on the stage, a photo album of Troy opened up in front of them. They were quietly sitting around, reminiscing, telling stories about Troy and sharing memories. They were smiling...
As we were leaving Troy's two sons presented Monica with a gift basket of Baton Rouge delicacies. Once again exhibiting a maturity beyond their years. As they posed for one last picture, in front of our banner on our tour bus, they all pointed to a picture of Troy and posed for the camera. At one point as we were snapping their images Troy Jr said, "Please take another one, I wasn't smiling yet"....
And this family's missing loved one is somehow less worthy of our attention..?...
Elisa
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