CASS COUNTY — A stack of 102 red carnations were laid at the base of the memorial stone at the Cass County Law and Courts Building Wednesday afternoon — each placed to honor a victim who lost their lives to a violent crime in Cass County.

The grey stone reads “in memory of all the victims who lost their lives to crime in Cass County.”

The carnations were positioned one by one as someone who represented the victim, be it a family member, friend or local prosecutor, read their name out loud. Dozens of community members were in attendance.

This procession was part of the annual flagpole ceremony hosted by the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office as part of Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

“A core principle of government is to protect the public and this certainly keeps that at the forefront,” said Victor Fitz, the Cass County prosecutor. “It reminds the officials, who have been very helpful, that this is so critical to what we do in county government.”

Fitz, who has been a part of the ceremony for the past 15 years, says that the laying of carnations is a much more recent tradition. In previous years, they released balloons, but due to the potentially strong winds and other factors, he and his office decided it might be best to start a different tradition.

“One of my coordinators suggested the carnations and I think that’s a very perfect touch,” Fitz said. “It’s a show of respect and as you saw from some of the family members, they were literally kissing the flowers before laying them down. It’s a regal remembrance.”

Much of the crowd consisted of family members and friends who lost someone to a violent crime, police officers, prosecutors and government officials. Most of those there to honor a loved one wore a name tag that, in addition to their name, listed the loved one they had lost.

Three members of the Steven family from Cassopolis were there. At the bottom of each of their name tags read “In memory of David Michael Steven.”

“Our son deserves to be honored,” said Marcelene Steven, David’s mother. “He was a good kid.”

David was killed by a drunk driver last year.

“We miss him,” said Kurt Steven, David’s father. “I mean, wouldn’t you do anything like this if it was you — to honor his memory. That’s why we’re here.”

After the ceremony the family also planned to visit David’s burial site.

“I think it’s critical that we don’t forget the survivors,” Fitz said. “I think this certainly means a lot to those who are here and even those who can’t come because they lost a loved one in a very unnatural way. It’s a long journey for them, and this is to help them through that journey.”