Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
By Angela M. Coggs
In a deeply moving and powerful tribute, the first annual memorial event hosted by Families and Friends of Murdered Victims, Inc. was held at Smiley Park on Wednesday evening. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., families, friends, and community members gathered to honor and remember those whose lives were tragically taken by violence.
The emotional evening was made possible through a meaningful collaboration between Families and Friends of Murdered Victims, Inc., the City of Redlands, the Redlands Police Department, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Victim Services. Together, they created a safe space of remembrance, healing, and community support.
Attendees were encouraged to bring cherished items representing their loved ones—photos, pairs of shoes, and personalized t-shirts. The shoes and pictures were displayed in a solemn memorial installation, serving as a poignant visual reminder of the many lives lost to senseless violence. A special feature of the event was “The Clothesline,” where t-shirts bearing the faces and names of victims were hung and celebrated, fluttering gently in the evening breeze as symbols of remembrance and enduring love.
The event was the heartfelt vision of Rose Madsen, mother of Jennifer LeAnne Balber, a 20-year-old woman who was shot and killed while on duty as a Southern California Gas Company Meter Reader in Rialto, California, on November 10, 1994. Jennifer was not the intended target of the drive-by shooting, but her life was tragically taken in an act of violence that shook her family, friends, workplace, and community to its core.
Madsen has transformed her pain into purpose. Through Families and Friends of Murdered Victims, Inc., she now works to ensure that no family has to suffer alone. The organization aims to support those affected by violent crime and advocate for awareness, healing, and remembrance.
“This isn’t just about mourning our loved ones—it’s about keeping their memories alive, standing together, and finding strength in community,” Madsen shared during the event.
As candles were lit and names were read aloud, tears were shed and hands held tightly. The power of the evening came not only from grief, but from unity and a shared determination to honor every victim with dignity, love, and hope.
FFMV partnered with the City of Redlands. Redlands Police Department and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office & the Bureau of Victim Services. District Attorney Jason Anderson welcomes and spoke to the attendees at this momentous gathering. His words were heartfelt, sincere, thoughtful, resonating deeply with those in attendance.
Families and Friends of Murdered Victims, Inc. plans to make this memorial an annual tradition. Another source of ongoing support, FFMV releases a monthly newsletter to keep supporters and families informed and connected.
For more information, to ask questions, or to sign up for the monthly newsletter, please contact Rose Madsen at mail4ffmv@yahoo.com.
In memory of Jennifer LeAnne Balber and all victims of violence — gone, but never forgotten.
