In Memory of Dominic Durden [1982-2012]
People ask me who Dominic was and what DOMHUGS is about.
There was so much depth and substance to him and it is hard to explain him in just a few sentences.
Dominic was the kind of friend that you knew you could always depend on. The kind of buddy that would give his honest opinion and be there through thick and thin, good and bad.
As I am waiting for my flight to Washington, D.C., I have a little time to reflect on the Avalanche that I was in for the past 2 weeks.
I first want to thank each and everyone for the incredible love, support, generosity and just being behind us for the last 3 years.
3 years ago I was looking at coffins and urns, trying to pick out flowers and just trying to wrap my head around what happened to our Dominic.
This is my fight for Dominic and so many others who can’t speak up anymore. Not every mom or dad affected by this, are able to stand up and scream of this injustice. I will continue to tell our Dominic’s story.
Dominic D. Durden was born on January 22nd, 1982 in Germany. At the age of 10, he and his family moved to the US where they planted roots in
Moreno Valley California. He was the kind of person that was an exemplary friend; always there when you needed someone, and a person who even if you just met, had a feeling as if you were the best of friends for years. Dominic was very active in the community volunteering for local Fire stations where he participated in drills, performed administrative duties, and went on emergency calls with the Fire Department. In addition to this, Dominic also volunteered at the local TV station, MVTV-3 where he eventually was hired to a part time position. Dominic has been recognized on numerous occasions for his work in the community receiving 87 letters of recommendations along with 111 school and work award certificates; some of which were awarded to him by former President Bill Clinton and Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbra Boxer. In 2002 he also received Volunteer of the Year Award for over 1000 hours of community service in Moreno Valley.