CUE Center for Missing Persons 27th annual Candlelight Vigil

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – This past weekend, the CUE Center for Missing Persons hosted its three-day National Missing Persons Conference in Wilmington. A poignant moment of the conference was the 27th annual Candlelight Vigil, which took place at Wilmington’s waterfront.

The vigil honored missing persons and their families, offering a blue light escort for conference attendees as they traveled to the ceremony. This year, a significant addition to the event was the unveiling of a wall displaying the faces of missing persons, a tribute to those still unaccounted for.

Three families were also recognized for recent recoveries, including Paige Escalera, Falon Cooksey, and Shamra Hope Cassidy Felkel.

One of the many volunteers who has supported the organization for years is Dwayne Baker. After his son went missing years, he found support through CUE and has since volunteered for over 13 years. For Dwayne, the work CUE does is personal, and he’s dedicated to giving back.

Dwayne Baker shared his experience with CUE: “And ever since then I have watched this organization, what they do for the missing, and I couldn’t stand by. I know what they did for me, so I got involved. Mostly I do boots on the ground. It’s not a job for everybody, but it needs to be done.”

The vigil also featured the presentation of the Keeper of the Flame Award, which recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond in the search for missing persons.

The public was encouraged to attend the ceremony, with candles provided as part of the tribute to those who are still missing.