by Dalton Laing, STAR Writer

Workmen carefully lay the headstone of Sheneka Shakes, 9, in place during a brief ceremony. She along with her best friend Shannakay Legister were raped and killed two years ago. - Dalton Laing

Two years ago they were raped and slain but they have not been forgotten.

In a bid to keep the memories of Shannakaye Legister and Sheneca Shakes, 8 and 9 respectively, alive a foundation which was formed in their community of Town Head in Westmoreland, recently fitted their tombs with headstones.

The Shannakaye Legister and Sheneca Shakes Foundation had as one of its objectives at inception a year ago, to place headstones on the graves of the slain young girls. This came to fruition during the week of activities to commemorate the lives of the youngsters.

On June 29, 2005, Legister and Shakes, 8 and 9 respectively, were heading for school by way of a short cut through a bushy area when they were allegedly attacked, raped and killed. One of several search parties found the bodies of the two girls a day after they were last seen alive.

Recently for the laying of the headstones, the students of the Town Head Primary School marched to the graves of the two young girls for the brief ceremony.

Other items for the week of activities included a candlelight vigil and a free gospel concert. It was from the concert last year that some of the funds were raised to purchase the headstones.

Other objectives of the foundation are to assist other 'needy ventures' within Town Head as well as any project geared at community development. The foundation will also seek to increase the Crime Stop purse and/or create an additional reward for the arrest of the person responsible for the crimes.

To date the police have made several arrests but have been unable to make a case against any of those persons.