COVA recognizes victim advocates for 40th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Gracie Parrish, the widow of slain Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Zackari Parrish, speaks at an awards ceremony hosted by the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance on April 19, 2021

Gracie Parrish spoke at an awards ceremony Monday evening hosted by the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance for the 40th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, recognizing people and organizations who provided exemplary victims’ services and advocacy in 2020.

As the ceremony’s featured speaker, Parrish talked about the shock of suddenly having a national profile and the unsettling feeling brought on by even well-meaning strangers bringing gifts and stopping her in public, knowing the most personal of information about her family, including their address and her children’s names.  

But she also spoke about how support that let her know she didn't have to go through her “season of pain” alone. 

“I have found that the power of saying ‘Me too’ is incredible; that there doesn't need to be a ‘fix it;’ — there doesn't need to be a five-step program to walk your way out of pain,” Parrish said. “Sometimes just sitting with someone and saying, ‘I hear you; me too,’ is so, so powerful.” 

Read the full story at DenverGazette.com.