Justin Mitchell, WTOP.com

ROCKVILLE, MD. — On a bright Sunday afternoon, Maryland hosted its 25th annual memorial service for the victims of violent crime and their families.

The event, named “The Love a Heart Holds Dear,” took place at the Hilton Hotel in Rockville. A color guard from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department paid tribute, as did musicians and other speakers.

Most prominent among the attendees was Maryland State’s Attorney for Montgomery County, John McCarthy.

“We try to take a little time every year, just to remind them that their family is not forgotten,” McCarthy told WTOP. “You’re not just a number, you’re not just a statistic