The Polk County Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving — or MADD — is holding a candlelight vigil in Des Moines tonight as part of a nationwide effort. Bill Shackelford is the chapter’s president. He says the candlelight vigil is a memorial for people to remember those they’ve lost to drunk driving. Shackelford says those in the chapter know first-hand the pain of losing a loved one to a drunk driver.He says he lost a sister in 1987, the group’s vice president lost a sister, their victim’s services coordinator lost a brother. Shackelford says the welcome the support of anyone in the state. He says there are 600 chapters nationwide, and three others in Iowa, in Davenport, Dubuque and Waterloo, and he says anyone is welcomed to get involved. Shackelford says the holiday season is a tough one for those who’ve lost family members to drunk driving.He says this is a time of year when you deal with memories. He says you think of your family as being intact, and he says his was until a drunk driver killed his sister. Shackelford hopes the vigil will also help raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving this holiday season. The Des Moines vigil is tonight at seven o’clock at the Plymouth Congregational Church.
