17th annual Walk for Peace honors Wendale Davis

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — It's been 17 years since Wendale Davis was murdered and his father, Wesley, says he still hasn't fully processed that day. "That [day is] still vague, because that's still in a different area of my brain," said Wesley. "It's blank for me."

On April 23, 2006, Wendale Davis was gunned down by unknown gang members. It's a case that remains unsolved to this day. He's far from the only victim of violence in Bakersfield and that's why Wesley Davis renamed Soldiers for Christ, an organization to help lead at-risk youth founded in 1996, in honor of his son.

And so, the Wendale Davis Foundation was born.

"We do intensive mentorship, youth and adult," said Wesley. "Our motto is if we look down on somebody, we're lending them a hand to pick them up." On Saturday, year number 17 of the Walk For Peace honors Wendale, as well as many other victims of violence.

"After the candlelight vigils, after the wakes, after the funerals...everybody goes back to their own lives," said Wesley. "Except for those that were really close to the individuals that were murdered. That's what this is for, to come out and support them and love on them again."

While the day his son was murdered has been shut out of his mind, Wesley still describes the feeling of loss like it was yesterday.

He says helping others deal with their grief, helps him deal with his own. "Anyone that has lost a child, they'd be able to tell you that there's no words in the English language to describe that pain," said Wesley. "But the burden gets a little lighter as you go along. This is therapeutic for me and I've been blessed to receive an overwhelming amount of love and support throughout the years. It's been amazing."