A September display of 48 pinwheels and a community candlelight vigil will honor Wayne County residents who died from gun violence while promoting peace and safe firearm storage practices in Orrville.
The East Chippewa Church of the Brethren plans the memorial activities as part of the International Day of Peace observance, according to a community announcement. The church will install the pinwheel display around the Peace Pole in front of the church during September and host a Candlelight Vigil for Peace at 7 p.m. Sept. 20.
The display recognizes 48 Wayne County residents who died by gun violence between 2020 and 2025. Data cited from the Wayne County Coroner's Office shows that 44 of the county's 66 suicide deaths during that period involved gunshots.
The announcement also pointed to recent fatal shootings in Wayne County.
Four people, including a veteran police officer, a mother and her teenage daughter, died in a domestic-related shooting in Rittman on July 5. Five days later, a 44-year-old man was found shot to death in a farmhouse near Wooster.
Church organizers said the observance is intended to remember community members affected by gun violence and encourage actions aimed at preventing future deaths.
Along with prayers for people affected by gun violence, the church is urging gun owners to follow safe and secure firearm storage practices.
The announcement cites support for secure gun storage from three out of four Americans, according to the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Organizers are promoting the BE SMART program. More information is available at besmartforkids.org.
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Wayne County gun violence victims to be honored in peace vigil