Flower toss held along St. Clair River in memory of victims of violent crime

Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald
·2 min read
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Attendees throw flowers into the St. Clair River in memory of victims of violent crimes on April 24, 2024.
Attendees throw flowers into the St. Clair River in memory of victims of violent crimes on April 24, 2024.

Dozens turned out to honor those who had been lost to violent crimes Wednesday afternoon at a flower toss held in Port Huron's Kiefer Park by the advocacy group P.S. You're My Hero.

Volunteers handed out flowers to attendees, including family members of victims, law enforcement officers and members of the St. Clair County Prosecutor's Office, who threw them into the St. Clair River.

Mara McCalmon, a founding member of P.S. You're My Hero, said the flower toss is held as part of National Crime Victim's Rights Week, held each April to remind people of remembering the rights victims of crime have to see justice.

McCalmon said she founded P.S. You're My Hero after she and her late husband, Paul Skinner, were both victims of a violent crime in Yale in 2010. She said she would often hear courts discuss the importance of respecting the rights of the people who killed Skinner, but often felt ignored, particularly as she had to attend multiple re-sentencings.

Carbon, who works with the St. Clair County Prosecutor's Office to comfort victims and witnesses, was on site for the flower toss.
Carbon, who works with the St. Clair County Prosecutor's Office to comfort victims and witnesses, was on site for the flower toss.

"Each time it's absolutely agonizing," McCalmon said.

McCalmon volunteered with the St. Clair County Prosecutor's Office Victim's Rights Unit, whose members attended the event alongside Carbon, a dog used by the office to help comfort victims. She's also lobbied for victim's rights, with her case having been cited by Michigan House Rep. Andrew Beeler, R-Port Huron, during a hearing for Resolution 231 acknowledging Crime Victim's Rights Week.

"Anytime legislation comes up that could see their life sentences commuted, Mara's again forced to open those wounds that were inflicted on her that night 14 years ago," Beeler said.

Among the attendees was Sandy Schultz, the mother of Joshua Conant who died in November after bouncers at the Roche Bar pinned him down. Michigan State Police completed an investigation into Conant's death and a report has been submitted to the Michigan Attorney General's Office, which indicates its still under review.

Laura Hillman, left, of Blue Water Allies meets with Mara McCalmon, founder of P.S. You're My Hero to receive a donation after the flower toss.
Laura Hillman, left, of Blue Water Allies meets with Mara McCalmon, founder of P.S. You're My Hero to receive a donation after the flower toss.

Also present was Laura Hillman, a member of Blue Water Allies' board of directors. As part of Crime Victim's Rights Week, P.S. You're My Hero donated $1,500 to the Blue Water Ally Center in Port Huron. McCalmon said her organization wanted to acknowledge and help LGBTQ+ people who have been victims of violent crimes.

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Hillman said the funds will help the center provide social workers and other professionals who can help LGBTQ+ youth.

Donation can be made to P.S. You're My Hero at https://www.psyouremyhero.org/donate-or-sponsor.

Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Flower toss held along St. Clair River in memory of victims