Mother who lost two sons to violence leading Merced‘s 12th Annual Victims Remembrance Walk

Merced’s annual walk to remember two local brothers — and other victims of violent crimes — is set to take place early next month.

The 12th Annual Riley Brothers Victims Remembrance Walk is scheduled to take place noon, Oct. 10. Participants will gather in the FoodMaxx parking lot of West Olive and Meadows avenues.

Marylene Riley started the remembrance walk years ago in honor of sons Micheal and Marlis Riley, who were killed within a year of each other.

According to Riley, she wants this year’s walk to be a little different because of what the country is currently experiencing, in terms of racial strife and the coronavirus pandemic.

Attendees will be asked to wear a mask and socially distance during the walk. “Our country is in chaos,” Riley said. “I want us to be positive, loving, caring, supportive — that is the message I want to send this year.”

During the event, a prayer and song will be followed by a balloon release.

From the parking lot, the walk will travel north along Meadows Avenue to the intersection with Loughborough Drive, going to the area where Michael was fatally shot outside an apartment complex in 2008.

There, a prayer and song will take place. Participants can lay flowers and share words of remembrance.

The march will the head west, turning left onto Denver Avenue to an alleyway near Conestoga Drive, the where Marlis was killed in 2009. A similar ceremony will be held there before the march travels west on Conestoga Drive to Austin Avenue, and eventually back along West Olive Avenue to the starting location.

Other families who have also lost loved ones to violence are also encouraged to participate. Riley said for any other families who have lost a loved one to violence in the Loughborough area, the walk’s route can be adjusted to include stops at other sites.

“I want Merced to come together and send positive waves throughout our community, and hoping that other counties and cities can see us making a difference doing something positive,” Riley said.

Invited speakers and attendees include Merced Police Chief Tom Cavallero and City Councilman Matthew Serratto.

Riley said she has also invited Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, and Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced.

“I just want this to be a positive, caring, loving, peaceful remembrance of our loved ones.”