Thursday, December 29, 2011
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
When Jennifer Culp of Newton Falls learned there would be a flag-raising ceremony Wednesday to remember her 3-month-old son, Jacob, she offered up a poem.
The poem, called “Little Snowdrop,” was meant to give meaning to the life of her 3-month-old son, who was killed in June while at a Newton Falls day care.
A Southington Township woman who worked at the day care has been charged with murder in the case.
A snowdrop is a plant in the lily family with white flowers.
“The world may never notice
If a snowdrop doesn’t bloom
Or even pause to wonder
If the petals fall too soon.
But every life that ever forms,
Or ever comes to be,
Touches the world in some small way
For all eternity.”
Miriam Fife, Trumbull County victim-witness advocate, read the poem for Jennifer, her husband, Jonathan, and her other son, also named Jonathan, near the Trumbull County Courthouse.
Then the flag purchased by the organization Parents of Murdered Children was raised to call attention to another Trumbull County child’s death resulting from violence.
“We fly this flag not only to remind this community of the tragedy that has happened, but to show that we have compassion and caring for the family that’s left,” Fife said.
“Jacob was a beautiful baby born on February 23, 2011. At age 3 months, Jacob’s parents enjoyed watching every new facial expression that came with each new day,” Fife said.
The Culps were joined by the pastor of their church, Paul Toelke of Grace Lutheran Church in Austintown, and many family and friends.
Jennifer said she had no comment. “This is just about Jake,” she said.
Afterward, Fife said she believes this type of commemoration when a young person dies this way can be beneficial to the family and the community.
“I think it’s important for everyone to realize we have tragedies, but not to back away from them but to meet them head-on and to try to prevent them from happening again,” she said.
“The key word is awareness,” Fife said.
Sarah Kaiser, 29, of McConnell East Road was released on $500,000 bond 10 days ago after being arraigned on murder, assault and child endangering in Jacob’s death.
Kaiser’s attorney said Kaiser was a longtime employee of Church of God Day Care Center on West Broad Street on June 1 when Jacob was found not breathing. Jacob died later of abusive head trauma at Akron Children’s Hospital.