dreams never die
living in our hearts, you are never gone
guiding, sheilding, protecting
show my eyes the light of what shall save me
may the death in this world cease
bury my heart in your hands and when the end comes
i'll be there waiting for you
with my arms held open waiting to hold you again
i will always be with you in your heart
wish upon the falling stars
and i will take your pain away
if i scream into this crisp night air
will i be answered only by the silence of the breeze?
wish me away on the wings of porcelain angels
and i will soar through the storms of your cristaline tears
finding your warm embrace
my eyes rest peaceful now
Lindsay was recently in my thoughts as I wondered if that horrible monster had yet been brought to justice and while searching the internet I found the Lindsay Ann Burke website. The sight of Lindsay's photo with that song playing brought tears immediately to my eyes and I just wanted to let you know what a beautiful website you've created in her honor. I'm very, very regretful that I wasn't aware that her killer was in trial or I would to have tried to have been there, but was pleased to see that the jury found him guilty.
I was also very happy to read about the proposal for the Lindsay Ann Burke Act, and hope that many, many other lives are saved from the same fate as hers.
I knew Lindsay when she was at CCRI, I'm not a very outgoing person and am not the type to walk up to total strangers but after having seen Lindsay in the halls and cafeteria a few times she just had this glow about her and in her smile that I knew she was someone special. A friend and I befriended her and from the day we first talked to her, the three of us would always meet in the cafeteria in-between classes. I will never forget the sound of her laugh, or the way she made me laugh. In retrospect I only knew Lindsay for a short time, but I felt like I had known her so much longer then that and had always regretted that I hadn't made more of an effort to remain in contact after our schedules changed and she went to RIC.
I think of Lindsay a lot and of how I can make a difference in helping educating people about domestic violence in the hopes of preventing a horrific tragedy. If there's anything you know of that you could pass along in terms of volunteering or donating I'd be more then happy to receive it and try to make some kind of difference in Lindsay's honor.
Again, a very beautiful and moving website, my heart goes out to all of you.
Sincerely,
Josh McGinn
In Loving Memory of Lindsay Ann Burke,
Who will live forever in our hearts saving many other lives.
I dedicate this to you...
"WILL ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, "NO!"
"I would like to caution you not to take your life for granted. I know, first hand, how devastating the effects of Domestic Abuse can be. I am sure you already know about the published statistics. I am within the very "top" one percent.
There have been generations of long-standing heinous abuse in my family on my father's side. It killed my grandmother and prompted multiple suicides. My father and my uncle were extremely affected and in turn severely abused their own families.
Both my mother and my uncle's wife resorted to escape plans for themselves and their children consisting of an emergency route, relocation, legal restraining orders and divorce. I am grateful that my mother was such a strong woman and I was able to see, by example, that Domestic Abuse was not to be tolerated. Because of my mother's actions, I am still alive today. As is often the case with a pattern of this disease, later in life I found myself married to an abuser. Fortunately by reflection, I had the sense, and the template, to seek out the necessary help which I desperately needed.
Yes, I know what it is like to grow up missing a normal family life. I know what it is like to harbor an ugly untold secret as a child. I know what it is like to fear that your own father could kill you. I know what it is like to leave everything behind and flee for your life in the middle of the night. And yes, I now know what it is like to be all by yourself in an unknown place, at a homeless shelter with no address and no place else to go.
I am also fortunate to know a proud sense of self which emerged from facing reality and adversity head on. I am fortunate to know a sense of serenity from learning that the strength and endurance required to meet life's challenges can really be found within. I am now fortunate to know a deep seated sense of peacefulness, relief, resolve and insight as a result of learning about the external origins of this deadly disease. And I know, with absolute certainty, that I will never forget the feeling of profound joy that came from the realization that, somehow, I am still alive to tell you about it. For many others, living has not always been an option."
All my love, LEAH
Man sentenced to life in prison for murdering girlfriend
WARWICK, R.I. (AP) -- A man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2005 murder of his girlfriend.
Gerardo Martinez, 29, of Warwick was convicted in January of killing Lindsay Ann Burke, 23, who was found by detectives on Sept. 14, 2005, lying in a bathtub with a slit throat. The jury determined the murder involved torture and aggravated battery.
New Hampshire State Police found Martinez after the killing at a rest area in that state wearing bloodstained clothing. Authorities said Martinez had driven a car into a tree, had cuts on his forearm and had a notebook on the seat next to him that contained what appeared to be a suicide note.
Attorney General Patrick Lynch is backing a bill motivated by the killing that would require school districts in Rhode Island to incorporate dating violence education into the health education curriculum. A House committee heard testimony this week on the legislation, which is called the Lindsay Ann Burke Act.
Prosecutors
say Martinez and Burke had been involved in a tumultuous relationship for two years.
