The shoreline at Robert Moses Beach, Field 5, was transformed into a striking memorial as grieving families from across Long Island carried handcrafted tombstones to the water’s edge for the Trail of Truth Second Annual March to the Sea. Photo credit: Carole Trottere
The rainy and dreary weather on Sunday, September 7, did not deter the more than 50 people who came out for the Second Annual Long Island Trail of Truth – March to the Sea. The shoreline at Robert Moses Beach, Field 5, was transformed into a striking memorial as grieving families from across Long Island carried handcrafted tombstones to the water’s edge. The Second Annual March to the Sea honored lives lost to substance-use-related causes and confronts the deadly rise of fentanyl in the local drug supply.
The National Trail of Truth movement was established 10 years ago by Truth Pharm and Trail of Truth founder Alexis Pleus. Alexis also serves on a statewide coalition to End Overdose in NY, and she’s the Co-chair for the New York State Harm Reduction Association. She serves on the National Coalition for Harm Reduction Funding and the Opioid Network.
Part public art installation, part healing ceremony, the Trail of Truth pairs emotion with striking visuals. Participants walked together toward the surf, placing memorial tombstones in the sand against the backdrop of the iconic Fire Island Lighthouse. Each marker had the name and face of a loved one, revealing the staggering scope of loss hidden behind the statistics.
“This is a memorial arts project that memorializes loved ones lost to substance use issues,” said Mia Huese, of Truth Pharm, said. “For many people, the making of the tombstones can be an outlet for their grief.”
The National Trail of Truth will take place in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 27. For more information, visit: https://www.trailoftruth.org
Lori Carbonaro, who lost her son Nicholas in 2014, and organized the event, said, “The March to the Sea is a safe, non-judgmental place to remember our loved ones, to say their names, to share who they were, who we knew…not only what happened to them, they were more …so much more. Hopefully, by us being here, it will be impactful enough to help those who are still suffering.”
Steve Chassman, Executive Director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD), said:
“As we remember those lost amid the devastating opioid epidemic, we walk along the shores of Long Island contemplating much-needed improvements to public health, empathetic prevention strategies, and more universal access to quality treatment on demand. We remember those loved and lost but continue to voice our support of individuals and families who remain in the struggle of substance use disorder (SUD) in informing them that help is available, Narcan is accessible, and quality resources for treatment exist. These are the universal missions of The Trail of Truth, LICADD, GGT, FIST, and all those lending a helping hand in service to others in need.”
For more information about LICADD, visit https://licadd.org
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