KOUNTZE, Texas — To mark the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month people came together at the Hardin County Crime Victims Assistance Center in Kountze to share the names and stories of victims.
It's all about spotting the signs of domestic violence, teaching people how to step in and potentially saving lives.
"We take life-size red silhouettes and they represent a woman that was murdered in an act of domestic violence," said Crime Victim Assistance Director Jennifer Walters.
These powerful cutouts tell the stories of real victims by providing an important lasting message.
"We get to keep the memory alive of our victims. It also means we bring awareness to domestic violence, and we can offer them services that we can provide," said Sexual Assault Advocate Kelly Burke.
Burke knew several of the victims who were honored during the balloon release at the Hardin County Courthouse.
"Her name was Karen Jones. Her mother was in an abusive relationship. She went to go and help her. The defendant hid from them. And when they went in, he murdered both of them. Karen and her mother," Burke shared with 12News.
Walters explained the Domestic Violence Wheel, which describes the repetitive pattern of behavior between the abuser and the victim.
"We start off with hearts and flowers and romance, it proceeds into raised voices, manipulation, then it escalates a little further to where there's hitting and punching and slapping, and then it might go back into hearts and flowers," she said.
Spreading awareness and empowering people to intervene are crucial to breaking the cycle, Walters tells 12News.
"Talk to whoever it is that's the primary victim of the domestic violence and point out what resources are available to them... you might even get other family members involved to have a sort of intervention," Walters said.
Ultimately, the most important thing you can do is show people you're there to help.
"Domestic violence victims are not alone, and the people that have perished to acts of domestic violence, we will never forget them...and continue to honor them," said Walters.
If you or somebody you know is currently a victim of domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You're encouraged to call the National Domestic Violence hotline at 800-799-7233 for more information on where to get help.