Saturday marks the two-year anniversary of the disappearance of Rachel Cooke. Nineteen-year-old Rachel was a college student. ...snip She was home on winter break. "There was never enough time in the day to do everything Rachel wanted to do," Janet said. Rachel ran out of time. ...snip She left her parents Georgetown home two years ago for a jog never to be seen again. ...snip "I thought for some reason we would find her," Janet said. "We still do have leads. I've personally looked at some leads that have come in, in the last week," Williamson County Sheriff's Department Chief Mike Lummus said. But as the yellow ribbons fade, so does the Cooke's hope of ever having their daughter home alive. "It's not really very realistic. We kind of keep our hopes up but the odds are less then one percent that she'll come home alive so we're prepared any way she does come home," Rachel's father Robert Cooke said. To remember Rachel, the Cookes are asking the community to join them from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church located on Williams Drive in Georgetown. http://kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=1595260&nav=0s3cK7FF
Cookes still searching for daughter, answers, peace Ceremony marking Rachel Cooke's disappearance Saturday KVUE.com A ceremony marking the 2nd anniversary of the disappearance of Rachel Cooke will be held Saturday. Cooke, then 19, disappeared while jogging near her parents' home in Georgetown. Her whereabouts have remained a mystery, despite repeated searches and national news media attention. ...snip The effort to find her has been ramrodded by her parents. Her father, Robert Cooke, has chronicled those efforts in a daily journal on KVUE.com. ...snip The ceremony will be at Faith Lutheran Church, 4010 Williams Drive, between 4 and 6 p.m. Fellowship, which will include a white dove release at 5:00 p.m., will take place from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. A candlelight prayer service at 6:00 p.m. will conclude the remembrance. http://www.kvue.com/news/local/010504kvuecooke-jw.110e6ffd9.html Note: Kvue.com requires registration but you can also read Roberts daily journal at: http://www.rachelcookesearch.org/
As the white doves are released (5:00 p.m. (CST)) at Rachel's Gratitude and Remembrance Vigil please take a moment to remember all our missing and their loved ones who are leaving a light on in hope.
Remembering Rachel.... Will remember Rachel today with thought and prayer....thinking of her as she appears in the pictures in the slideshow on Rachel's site, from tiny baby to beautiful young woman and celebrating along with her family and friends, her beautiful young life and praying hopefully still that she will come home to them.... Voyager
January 10, 2004 Rachel's Gratitude and Remembrance Vigil was a mixture of laughter and tears. It was a nice ceremony though very difficult for family and friends because Rachel wasn't there and we still don't know where she is. Kudos to Rachel's Aunt Diane for this statement: "With Williamson County, you've got a new start and I challenge you Sheriff Jim Wilson, please find Rachel," she said. Sheriff Wilson spoke briefly and told RC and Janet now that he is in office he will make Rachel's case a top priority. Austin American-Stateman article (requires registration): <b>New sheriff will take fresh look at case of missing woman Wilson may bring in outside investigators to help solve 2-year-old mystery</b> www.statesman.com/metrostate/conten...aturday/metro_state_f3ff1bc9d1b140de003f.html All five major media stations were there and gave Rachel's story good coverage. Available on-line: WATCH THE VIDEO <b>Remembering Rachel</b> News 8 Austin's Allie Rasmus reports from Georgetown. www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=94698 <b>Family And Friends Mark Sad Anniversary</b> www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=1595866&nav=0s3dK7ng KVUE's team coverage <b>Rachel Cooke's family, friends gather for anniversary</b> Play Clip (requires registration) www.kvue.com/breaking/011104kvuecookes-jw.554d767.html ©Jacqueline L. Riggs 2004
Greg Allen, father of missing Sabrina Allen spoke briefly about his frustrations when Sabrina was located and then let slip through everyone's grasp June 13, 2003. To read more about Sabrina Fair Llorens Allen click here: http://www.findsabrina.org/ ©Jacqueline L. Riggs 2004
RC, Janet and JoAnn get their "white doves" from the handler. (I believe these were actually white homing pigeons.) ©Jacqueline L. Riggs 2004
After circling the building, Rachel's bird races to catch up with the other three. ©Jacqueline L. Riggs 2004
RC and Janet each lit 12 candles on the communion rail to represent the number of months, 24 in total, that Rachel has been missing. ©Jacqueline L. Riggs 2004
Rachel's Uncle David read scripture and offered a prayer at the candlelight service. After the service, RC and Janet blew out the candles on the communion rail and the service was concluded. Many hugs were exchanged and another year without knowing where Rachel is was acknowledged. ©Jacqueline L. Riggs 2004
Two years... My great admiration to the Cookes for never letting Rachel be forgotten and continuing to help others through your grief. What special people you are. Thanks, JR, for chronicling these events. Glad to know those are homing pigeons and not doves.
great pictures Thanks for posting the excellent pictures JR. Saturday was a very special day. A lot of Rahcel's friends spoke about her. It helped they audience know her better. The white pigeons had to fly around 75 miles to their home in New Brunfels, Texas. After we released them, the birds made two circles over us to get their bearing and then headed south. This gave all of the cameras a chance to get some great shots of the birds. Janet and I have a meeting with the new sheriff tomorrow. One of the topics will be the long awaited task force.
RC and JR... What a beautiful tribute to Rachel! RC, the best of luck when speaking with the sheriff. Time to get mean with them, no more Mr. Nice guy, ok?
Rachel I thought about her (and all of you, her family) all day on the 10th. Hope that meeting goes well. (Or went well, depending on when it was.) Hugs, Ayeka
