Dayna Herroz lost her daughter and grandson to murder.
Herroz spoke of hurt and healing in front of dozens of others grieving the loss of their loved ones Saturday in Scripps Ranch.
The annual River of Fallen Tears Ceremony, held each year to remember victims of homicide, gathered together dozens of people who had lost loved ones to murder.
People hung photos of victims and painted their names on rocks placed along the “river of fallen tears.”
“There is no way we couldn't be changed or altered after losing our loved ones to murder,” Herroz’s said into the microphone in the quiet park, the sun shining through the trees.
The grove of trees known as the Crime Victims Garden was started as a tribute to Cara Knott, a San Diego State student killed in 1986 by a California Highway Patrol officer.
Since that high profile case, other families dealing with tragedy find comfort there too, including a Tierrasanta woman whose son was murdered a few years ago.
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"We are amongst people who are just like us here and so we understand each other,” Cyndi Wear told NBC 7.
This year's ceremony also included a tree dedication to fallen law enforcement officers.
