Daily Herald Editorial

Michael Castro. Lynn Ehlenfeldt. Richard Ehlenfeldt. Guadalupe Maldonado. Thomas Mennes. Marcus Nellsen. Rico Solis.

These are the seven who through cruel fate and circumstances lost their lives in the most shocking murders ever committed in the Northwest suburbs. Ten years to the day have elapsed since the seven were killed at closing time in Brown's Chicken & Pasta in Palatine. A decade has gone by since spouses, parents and children received the devastating word that their loved ones would never be coming home again.

Certainly, the memories of these seven continue to burn brightly in the hearts and minds of those who knew them best. Every holiday, every special occasion - and for some survivors, each new dawn - stirs afresh the loss that can never be restored and renews the determination to honor the memories of those who were killed.

These seven names remain prominent, too, in the minds of those who live in Palatine or nearby suburbs, particularly since the break in the case that led police and prosecutors to charge Jim Degorski and Juan Luna came just last spring.

But memories fade over time - and Michael Castro, Lynn and Richard Ehlenfeldt, Guadalupe Maldonado, Thomas Mennes, Marcus Nellsen and Rico Solis should not be forgotten. It is time to establish a permanent memorial to the victims.

The slayings struck such a deep nerve in the community partly because of their sheer brutality and utter senselessness, but also because everyone knew that these seven could have been any one of us. As Thursday's memorial profiles will remind everyone, these were seven individuals doing their best to make their way in the world, to support families and to pursue dreams. These were seven people whose lives were cruelly snuffed out for no reason other than the fact that they showed up for work on Jan. 8, 1993.

When some 3,000 people lost their lives for no better reason on Sept. 11, 2001, those who watched in horror responded with plans for memorials. The Brown's victims deserve no less.

A memorial cannot be established on the site where the restaurant once stood alongside Northwest Highway, because the land is privately owned. But a memorial need not be at that location to be meaningful.

Palatine village and park district officials are willing to cooperate with anyone who will take the lead in a memorial effort. In fact, Michael Castro's parents worked with the Palatine Park District years ago to plant a tree, marked by a plaque commemorating Michael, in a park near the Castros' home. Some victims' relatives like the idea of a living memorial in the form of seven trees and a plaque in a quiet area. That concept that also wins an endorsement from Mayor Rita Mullins, who says she will work with anyone interested in spearheading the effort.

If no one steps forward, the village or park district could ask for volunteers to a civic committee that would examine memorial options and select one. There's no better time than now, when the events of a decade ago are being replayed, to make certain that those who died are forever commemorated.