Florence Rally Stop

We arrived early to the area so we stopped and I took some pictures of the tour crew, we would do this from time to time during the tour; trying to be creative to show different areas and such, it was a mild day and everyone was in good spirits. In the parking lot we were greeted by some cue members first then we all walked into the Sheriff's Office together, it was packed with law officials, press and a very large group  representing the McLeod family.This stop was more like an official press conference type, very well put together and even little creative details to present the missing from three agencies and unsolved homicides. The Florence Sheriff Office did a great presentation, of coarse they always do in their participation in our annual road tour program. They did it all, the visuals... press conference and then they came outside to launch balloons with a prayer in support of the families. Many CUE members were on hand as they helped prepare the family side of the event and it showed. I think this was the first time for me to see how much family Ms. McLeod really had and I know if it had an impact on me, it also had one on the law officials as well. This is one of the many cases "which we all know to well", that had fallen from the news and so much time had passed, they need answers, they needed to know people care. I felt good about the stop because that was the main reflection of the day, it brought much attention to their missing loved one and other cases. It was also a day of watching my SC state directors from CUE with their family, a bond has occurred and seeing that first hand made me feel proud inside. See, this is what CUE is really all about, advocacy first...we work daily, behind the scenes with families across the nation, so much is involved that the average person looking in from the outside has no real clue what we do' the calls, organizing, involvement with communities, conducting searches, working with law officials, making things happen in every case; it is a constant task with no mercy or relief. We are on the ground with our cases and all that are involved, we get overwhelmed a lot but we get things done, when things unfold at the end of the day, you rest well that night. In most days, we might multi task on 20 different cases, several search plans and the list goes on. I reflect throughout the day on how much all of the volunteers with our organization are able to accomplish, and reflect on the ending of the tour of how much we have to get caught up upon our return. The thought is fast to leave when someone says, we have to go and get to our next stop...so we pack up saying our goodbyes, leaving I feel something will come from this stop, some tip, maybe a case solved, I linger in my thoughts on whose turn it will be next for a resolution.
Monica