Narcotic Overdose Prevention & Education Task Force to Hold National Candlelight VigilOn Thursday, October 29, the Narcotic Overdose Prevention & Education (N.O.P.E.) Task Force will hold their National Candlelight Vigil at Largo Central Park. The event will start at 6:30 p.m. and is dedicated in the memory of those lost and those suffering from the disease of addiction. The local organizer of the vigil is Laurie Serra, Pinellas Candlelight Vigil Coordinator. Laurie lost her son Matthew on October 3, 2008 from a prescription drug overdose here in the City of Largo. Matthew was a graduate of Seminole High School and the Virginia Military Institute. He was also a freestyle swimmer who competed in college. In her words "Our family will never be the same. As we continue to grieve for our son, we also have come to fully recognize the magnitude of the drug and alcohol addition epidemic in Pinellas. It seems that every day we receive another phone call from a family whose parent, child, brother, or sister is battling or has too often lost their battle with drug and alcohol abuse." The Largo Police Department and the Florida Police Chiefs endorse the efforts of N.O.P.E. Largo Police Chief L. Aradi along with several dignitaries from Pinellas County will be in attendance.
|