Somerville native Shawn Clark was among those honored at the Garden of Peace ceremony last Thursday.

Hundreds of family members and friends gathered on Thursday, September 18 as the names of 40 victims of homicide were added to the statewide memorial, bringing the total number of homicide victims memorialized since the Garden was first dedicated in 2004 close to a thousand. The newly engraved names were read by family members and community supporters who founded the Garden of Peace, which was dedicated in 2004.

The Garden of Peace is located on the plaza behind 100 Cambridge Street in Boston.

Somerville native Shawn Clark was added to the Garden. He is the Marine that was murdered at his business in Malden on January 29, 2013. He served two tours in Iraq and the Middle East, only to succumb to the violence here in the USA. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The perpetrators are still at large and the family is looking for closure in this case. They have renewed their plea for anyone with information to come forward and call the Malden police at 781-397-7171. There is currently a $60000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

Will Morales, Executive Director of the YMCA Achievers and the Egleston Square Youth Center, delivered this year’s keynote address. Morales is no stranger to violence and homicide. A former gang-member, he was in prison when his younger brother was killed in a fatal shootout with police. Upon release, Morales sought opportunities to help end the violence devastating his community. From his early volunteer work, gang intervention efforts and community development programs he has become a leader, advocate and beacon of hope for youth in Boston and beyond.

Annie Cox, a Garden of Peace board member and Boston Police Officer, shared the story of her beloved son, Dana R. Cox, who was killed on October 17, 1990.

Once again Mike Verge and his son Dylan performed along with “Wil Darcangelo & The Tribe,” an independent, student-run, adult-mentored, social enterprise rock band in Fitchburg, MA, performing a song written for the occasion called Rough Stones.

A full listing of the homicide victims, along with their city/town affiliation in Massachusetts, was released before the event.