Walk Like MADD

The MADD walk was a success! MADD NoVA surpassed its goal of $40,000, and close to 400 people showed up to support the event. Our team, In Loving Memory of Nathan B. Marti, raised $3,375! Thanks to all who made donations and to those who came out to the walk! Here are some pictures from the event. (Click to enlarge.)

Some walk team members









Hey, that's me on stage!












MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney and me

Please Support MADD!

I'm participating in Walk Like MADD in Northern Virginia on November 1. Please support MADD's mission to eliminate drunk driving and support me while I walk in memory of Nathan. Click here to make a donation!

My Victim Impact Statement

If you find this post helpful, please consider donating to the scholarship fund I set up in Nathan's name at Radford University. Click on the following link; at the bottom of the "Fund:" dropdown menu, select Other. Enter Nathan Marti Memorial Scholarship. Donations are tax-deductible. Thank you for your support!
https://connect.radford.edu/give

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I have been thinking a lot about my victim impact statement lately, and how writing it and then reading it in court provided some emotional healing for me. It helped me articulate how much my life changed forever, immediately when I found out Nathan was killed.

I wanted the judge, Chan, and my friends and family who attended the sentencing hearing to know the things I had to do in the days and weeks following Nathan's death. I wanted them to hear the truth about what my life had become because of Chan's selfish decision to drink and drive.

I will never know whether my statement had any influence over the judge when she sentenced Chan to 20 years in prison with 5 years suspended, but that is of little importance to me. What’s important is that my victim impact statement provided me with some sort of relief at a time of such darkness in my life.

When I first sat down to draft my VIS, I remember Googling the term "victim impact statement" to find a definition and maybe some written examples. I just wanted to get an idea of what I should write and how long it should be. The Virginia guidelines for writing a VIS gave me basic information, but I wasn’t really able to find many written examples.

I soon realized that the VIS is a very personal document, and this might be why people choose not to make theirs available online. Before I wrote or typed anything, I often found myself composing the VIS in my head before I fell asleep at night and when I woke in the morning.

One day, I found that I had some quiet time, so I opened a blank document on my computer and began to type. It took me only a couple hours to complete my first draft, then proceeded to nit-pick and edit it over the course of a few weeks.

I completed my final draft as I sat in court on April 21, 2008, five minutes before I was to get up on the stand and read it aloud. I furiously scribbled changes and crossed out lines to make sure I said everything I needed to.

It was one of the most emotional experiences of my life; I was nervous and had to stop a couple times because I was crying, but I got through it. I was glad to have the opportunity to speak in front of Chan.

I have included my VIS on this blog with the hope of helping someone who has the unfortunate task of writing one. I want to provide a starting point for someone who is looking for the courage and direction to begin writing such an important, personal statement.

Other than state guidelines, there’s no wrong or right way to write a VIS. There is, however, the opportunity to express the impact that a crime has had on one’s life.

If you have come across this blog post while in search of a victim impact statement example, you probably have to write one yourself. I'm very sorry that you're in this position, but also hopeful that I can help. I wish you strength and peace as you face this challenge.

Lastly, I ask that my VIS not be copied or reproduced in any way without my permission. My VIS serves as a statement for me only, and I expect that the only things taken from these pages are true sentiment and honesty. Click here to view it in Google Docs.

My mom and dad asked that I post their victim impact statements, too, so that they could possibly help someone.

Click here for my mom's VIS.

Click here for my dad's VIS.

VA Fund Raiser

I remembered two important things at the fund raiser yesterday:

1. I have amazing friends and family.
2. Dogfish Head rules.

We had an awesome turnout of supporters, and I was thrilled to be at a cool restaurant surrounded by so many people I know and love. I can't thank all of you enough for your support, not just yesterday, but every day.

I have been a fan of Dogfish Head beer for quite some time and was excited when the restaurant opened in Falls Church September of last year. The restaurant boasts yummy beer, good food, and the nicest staff around. The 12 hours that I spent at the restaurant Tuesday were well worth it. DFH generously donated 15% of their profit yesterday to the scholarship fund, which totaled approximately $1,600. On top of that, we raised about $800 from the silent auction and pint glass and t-shirt sales. (We still have lots of pint glasses left, so contact me if interested!)

We now have about $12,000 in the fund, very close to our $15,000 goal. Stay tuned for more fund raising events to come.

Poem

I found this nice poem today while putzing around on the Web:

We thought of you with love today,
but that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday
and days before that, too.
We think of you in silence,
we often speak your name.
Now all we have is memories
and your picture in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake
with which we'll never part.
God has you in his keeping;
We have you in our hearts.

One Week Away - Spread the Word!

Location: Dogfish Head Alehouse (click for directions)
When: Tuesday, July 15
11:30AM to 11:00PM

Come for lunch or dinner and live music. Dogfish Head will donate 15% of all money raised the entire day to the scholarship fund. Participate in the silent auction and win some awesome items, including sports tickets and memorabilia!

Massachusetts Benefit

My family and I traveled to Massachusetts for the scholarship fund raiser on Saturday.  We are so pleased with the turnout and with how much fun we had.  We raised approximately $2,400!

Congratulations to Gordon Benson for winning the Bose music system.

Click here to see pictures of the event. Thanks to all for making it a great success!

Check back for information on the July 15 fund raiser in Virginia.

One Year

One year has passed since our lives were changed forever. One year has passed since everything was turned upside down and inside out. I was out walking my dog that morning, and my mom called me. I thought it odd that I was getting a call on my cell from "Mom & Dad Home" at 7:53 a.m., but thought my dad just wanted to chat. I had been unemployed since the end of April, laid off from a job that I hated. I should have listened better when Nathan called my layoff a vacation, and enjoyed my time off, but instead was sad and depressed that I had no job. Little did I know, that would be the least of my worries.

I answered the phone with a slow, hesitant, "Hello?" and my mom was on the other line. She said, "Lindsay?" in a weird tone. "Yes?" I answered, now confused about why she'd called. "There's been a horrible accident," she replied. Thoughts raced through my mind of my dad driving to work and getting in a car accident. I started to wonder what hospital I'd be traveling to to visit him. I don't quite remember exactly what she said next. I think it was, "Nathan is gone." Whatever she said struck me like a lightning bolt, and my response was, "No he's not." "Lindsay, yes he is." "No!" I exclaimed, and I turned to cross the street and ran about 30 yards to my house, crossing the street with the dog, not even looking both ways. I fumbled with my keys and got inside and started to wail. I remember that as I ran to my house in disbelief of my mother's words, the only thing that convinced me it actually happened was that I knew my mother would never tell me such a thing if it were not true. I remember bits and pieces of the days following - the viewing and the funeral. I don't remember clearly the order in which I had conversations with people, who I hugged, how I got any sleep, or how I was able to eat anything.

Now it's one year later. Nothing has changed. He's still gone. I'm still sad. I still cry almost every day. I have been surrounded by the best friends and family. I still can't believe that I'm not going to get another late-night drunken phone call from Na, telling me silly stuff about his day, and ending with a heartfelt "I love you" from him. I never will heal. I've read that time makes it "easier" or "softer," but have yet to experience any such thing. All I know is that Nathan is not here, and my world, everyone's world, is a lesser place because of it. God bless all of those who have shown love, support, and compassion. God bless Nathan and his ability to bring all of us together amidst such a sad, tragic situation. There better be a Heaven.

Recognition from Diplomatic Security

Check out the Diplomatic Security: 2007 Year in Review document, particularly Page 25: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104752.pdf

Click the picture below:

Other Raffle Items

We're gearing up for the benefit! Here are some examples of items we're raffling on June 7:

-- 2 Mt. Wachusett lift tickets -- Lia Sophia jewelry

-- Panera gift card -- Large basket of chocolate goodies

-- Townsend Ridge Country Club certificate for greens fees

Plus much more!

Raffle: Bose Music System

We are raffling a Bose Wave Music System, $500 value, to raise money for the scholarship fund.

• You do not have to be present to win!


• Tickets are $5 apiece or 3 for $10.


• The drawing will be at the benefit in Massachusetts on June 7. If not present, the winner will be notified on June 9.

All payments must be received no later than Wednesday, June 4. Please contact me for further details and pass this on to friends, family, and coworkers.

Join Our Walk Like MADD Team!

We have formed a team for Nathan for Walk Like MADD. The 5k walk will take place on Saturday, November 1, in Reston, VA. It's not a race, but rather a way for all of us to join in the fight against drunk driving. Please join our team by clicking here. There is no requirement to raise money, although it's strongly encouraged! Please join and ask others, too!

Justice

... or as close to it as we are going to get:

Judge Alper sentenced Vathana Chan to 20 years in prison with 5 of those years to be suspended if he demonstrates good behavior. She also sentenced him to 1,000 hours of community service once he is released. This community service involves speaking to students, church groups, etc., about what he did and his experiences because of it; she added that this will be to serve as a lasting memorial to Nathan.

Our family is very pleased with the sentence. All too often the law and society as a whole do not treat this crime as what it is: a violent act of homicide. Driving drunk and killing someone is not an accident. Someone chooses to be intoxicated and then makes another decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. It is important for a person who demonstrates such a negligent disregard for human life to be punished appropriately. Given the Commonwealth of Virginia's current guidelines regarding aggravated involuntary manslaughter, we feel Chan was justly sentenced.

Now it's time to make a sentence like this the norm for committing this crime, not the exception.

Another Sentencing Hearing Change

The new time is 10:30 a.m.; no other information has changed.

Sentencing Hearing Information

Monday, April 21, at 9:30 a.m. Our lawyer estimates that the hearing will last 45 minutes.

The Arlington Courthouse is located at:
1425 N. Courthouse Road
Arlington, VA 22201

Click here to see a map
Click here for Court House Metro stop information

Parking
You can park in the metered lot across the street. Be sure to bring quarters, as there's always someone monitoring that lot and giving tickets.

Cell phones
Cell phones are not allowed inside the courthouse, so please leave them in your car.

Courtroom
We are not likely to know the courtroom number until the morning of the sentencing. The dockets and courtroom assignments will be posted on the first and 10th floors of the courthouse near the elevator lobbies.

Do You Want a Nathan Memorial T-Shirt?

I need to get a rough idea of how many shirts to order. Please email me by April 30! Thanks!

To see a larger view of the t-shirt design, click here.
Click on the picture for a larger view and click Rotate to see the back.

Please let me know how many and what size (click here for sizing chart).
Each shirt will be about $15, and all proceeds will go to the Nathan B. Marti Scholarship Fund.

Save the Date...Contact Me for More Details!

Sentencing Hearing (Finally)

The sentencing hearing finally has been rescheduled for Monday, April 21, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. So I can give the court a headcount, please let me know if you will be there.

1425 N. Courthouse Road
Arlington, VA 22201
For the specific courtroom number, please check here as the date gets closer.

Sentencing Hearing Delay

Ugh, so the sentencing hearing still has not been scheduled. Now the earliest it will be is in May. Stay tuned...

Ceremony on Nathan's Birthday

Nathan's Sigma Pi fraternity brothers are inviting everyone down to Radford on Nathan's birthday Saturday, February 23, to take part in a birthday celebration and ceremony to honor Nathan. Everyone, regardless of whether you're affiliated with Sigma Pi, is welcome. Here are the details:

Event: Rememberance of "HI Dale"
When: Saturday, February 23, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Bonnie Auditorium

To see more details, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=532984438&k=Y6L54YT2VWXM5CDDYE5ZTT

Plea Hearing

Court went as well as it could have on Tuesday. The guy pleaded guilty to aggravated involuntary manslaughter. The judge who will sentence him, Judge Alper, is the judge we want -- she reads everything that comes her way regarding the case, rather than having her clerks read some of it. This means that she will personally read each of our victim impact statements!

They set a sentencing date; however our lawyer is unavailable that day, so they must reschedule. It likely will be the first week in April, but of course, I will post the sentencing date as soon as we know it. Please consider coming to the sentencing hearing, and it's very important for you tell me if you plan to do so.

Please have your victim impact statements to me by Friday, February 15. Please note that there is no page limit, so feel free to include anything you'd like to say.

Trial Update #4: Guilty

My parents and I met with our lawyer yesterday, and he informed us that the other lawyer has indicated that the guy will be pleading guilty on the 29th. Our lawyer said he is "95 percent sure" that the guy will not change his mind beforehand, and will indeed plead guilty. This is great news because it means that we don't have to sit through a painful trial!

Our lawyer also explained what to expect on the 29th. On this day, the guy only will plead and the hearing will last about 10 minutes -- a separate sentencing hearing will be scheduled then, which will occur within 60-90 days. This puts the sentencing hearing in the late March/April timeframe.

I understand that it may be difficult for you to get time off of work for both of these hearings. Our lawyer said that if someone were to choose between which of the two hearings to attend, they should choose the sentencing hearing in March/April. This is because people will have the chance to read their victim impact statements then, and that is when the judge announces sentencing.

Of course, my family and I would greatly appreciate as many people coming to either or both of the hearings, as they are important to us, but in light of our lawyer's recommendation, I'd like to request that if you can only make it to one, please try to make it to the sentencing hearing. I will send out a separate email and post on this blog with the date and time.

Victim Impact Statement

Upon sentencing the guy who killed Nathan, after the trial, the judge will review any Victim Impact Statements (VIS) that are submitted by Nathan's friends and family. This is a great opportunity for our voices to be heard and help keep this guy behind bars.

A VIS is a written statement that describes the harm or loss suffered by the victim of an offense. The court considers the statement when the offender is sentenced. The VIS is intended to give victims of crime a voice in the criminal justice system; it allows victims to participate in the sentencing of the offender by explaining to the court and the offender, in their own words, how the crime has affected them.

A VIS can be prepared by the survivors of deceased victims, by the parent or guardian of a child victim, or by a spouse, dependant or close relative of a victim who is incapable of making a statement.

If Nathan has touched your life in some way, please consider writing a VIS and contact me ASAP for further information. I'd like to collect all submissions by Friday, February 8.

Camp Calumet Newsletter Clip