Monte Vista-Under bright sunny skies last Saturday a crowd gathered at the Movie Manor to remember missing Monte vista resident Danice Day.

In a moving address to those who attended, father Rod Day tearfully acknowledged that it had been "two full calendar years that Danice has been missing and two years that we have no answers for her babies."

A photo of Day and her two children stood on a table surrounded by cookies and hot chocolate. Friends gathered in her memory.

Pastor Steve Shown shared a prayer for Day and her family and said, "Danice is reaching out today and wherever she is her blood cried out for justice. Just as Cain slew Abel, and his blood cried out, Danice is calling out to us."

Shown said, "I also believe God is asking us to forgive. Forgiveness isn't easy, but it's necessary in the healing process. I believe there is a season for everything, and I believe it's a season for both justice and forgiveness."

A song by Shown's wife Jolynn, which she sang and signed in American Sign Language, touched the crowd, as tears fell silently.

Day and his wife Judy told everyone how much they appreciated the support, but said, "This doesn't get easier." He said that he and his family have been assured that new leads are showing up daily, and the new evidence is hopeful.

Days said, "Today we voice a plea for help. There may be those who know something or have information. We are begging you to come forward so we can have peace and answers for her children whey they ask what happened their mommy."

Day went on to ask," reach inside yourself and ask yourself what would you do if it were your child. We need answers. We need closure. I want to bury my daughter with the respect she deserves."

A large trailer held 730 helium filled yellow and black balloons, one for each day she has been missing. Day explained the colors. "Black represents the worst of our suspicions, that we mourn our loss, and yellow is for hope-hope that someone will come forward today. Judy and I feel that yellow is the most powerful color to describe Danice. She was a soldier who fought a hard fight, and we believe she fought to the end."

Before the balloons were launched, Day asked Sheriff Brian Norton and Chief Investigator Shawn Woods to come forward.

"I believe that money talks, and today, we are adding $5,000 more to the foundation on behalf of Danice," Day said.

As the music played softly in the background, 730 balloons were released to the sunny skies, a message to Danice that she hasn't been forgotten.

Posted by jacqui at 04:56 PM | Permalink

By Jonene Day

Dear Friends and Family,
This Friday, January 9 marks the two-year anniversary of Danice Day's disappearance: That's two years of tears; two years of regret, anger and emptiness; two yers in which two innocent babies have been without their loving mother.

The past year we have been working on getting Danice's name and the circumstances of her case noticed and acknowledged. Her siste, Jacqui, ran in the New York City marathon in honor of her little sister and managed to gather over $1000 in donations for the Carol Sund/Carrington Foundation.

I did a taped interview with Paula Woodward of Denver 9News recently, and the TV crew will soon be putting together a feature on Danice's case. Hope this makes a couple of people sweat.

Once again this year, I am asking everyone reading this to light a candle or say a short prayer for our girl and for her babies.

My deepest gratitude goes to all those who, during the past year have written, donated and prayed for us.

With thanks and love,
Jonene Day (Danice's Mom)

Posted by jacqui at 05:04 PM | Permalink

By Jacqui Flint

Dear Danice,
Another year has passed since you have been gone. I thought it would be easiest to write you to you this year. It still isn't easy to talk about without tears. I saw one of your old friends over the Christmas break. We talked about you most of the time and how much we missed you. I couldn't help wishing you were right there, able to just hang out and talk about your life the same as us.

The family had a memorial for you a couple days after Christmas. It was really a celebration of your life. It seems as though we all had different memories of you to contribute. Some of the stories were new to me. Every time I hear something new about your life it makes me think that maybe I didn't know you well enough. Then the guilt comes up and my throat starts to tighten. I realize I could have never known every little thing about the real you and I shouldn't feel guilty, but that doesn't make it any easier. I thought about how I didn't have any friends my own age growing up, but I had you. You were always by my side.

Most of the time I just miss talking to you. When I was cleaning out my CD collection the other day, I thought about your Beatles obsession. I remember when you painted your dresser with an all Beatles theme. One drawer was John, the other Paul, next Ringo and the last drawer, George. You know, I still have your Magical Mystery Tour CD. I stole it from you along with that Pearl Jam CD I had given to you as a gift. Just minor details in the parts of life I can't share with you anymore. I am not sure I ever did anyway.

All these small parts of your life come up in my mind on a daily basis. Every day I think of something you did. Sometimes, all of the sudden I will see one of your facial expressions in my mind and it tears me apart so I try to erase it as soon and possible. It all makes me sad and it doesn't become easier after two years. I don't think I ever thought it would be two years when I first received news of your disappearance.

Whenever I think of you, these lyrics come to mind because every word of it is true. I play it all the time because it symbolizes just about everything about your absence:

Goodbye
Occurred to me the other day
You been gone a couple years
Well I guess it takes a while
For someone to really disappear
And I remember where I was
When the word came about you
It was a day much like today
The sky was wide and bright and blue

And I wonder where you are
And if the pain ends when you die
And I wonder if there was
Some better way to say goodbye

Today my hear is big and sore
Trying to push right through my skin
Won't see you any more
I guess that's finally sinking in
Cause you can't make somebody see
With the simple words you say
All the beauty from within
Sometimes they just look away

And I wonder where you are
And if the pain ends when you die
And I wonder if there was
Some better way to say goodbye
Some better way to say goodbye

Someday I hope we do have a better way to say goodbye, a justified way. I love you Danice and I am thinking of you today and every day.

Your sister,
Jacqui

Posted by jacqui at 05:03 PM | Permalink