Sisters of slain Wilson 5-year-old ask for Valentine's Day cards in his honor

"They’re definitely scarred. They’re traumatized," a weeping Bonny Parker, the children's mother, said Wednesday. "They get by, by keeping Cannon's name alive, doing things in memory of him every day."

One way the girls are trying to heal those scars is by organizing a special tribute for Cannon on Valentine’s Day.

"We want him to know that we love him," 7-year-old Ava Hinnant said, "and that we want to celebrate with him on Valentine’s Day."

She and 8-year-old Carly Hinnant want people to mail Valentine’s Day cards addressed to them to P.O. Box 4194, Wilson, NC 27893. They plan to read the cards aloud at Cannon’s grave on Valentine’s Day.

"I want to read them to Cannon so he can be happy and remember who loves him," Carly said. "We want him to remember everything that people said about him."

Parker said her children have been through a lot since Cannon’s death, and every day is still a trial for the family.

Parker said she still doesn’t understand why her son was killed. But more than anything, she wants to make sure people don’t forget Cannon.

"Having other people send Valentine’s Day cards to Carly and Ava, I feel, would warm their heart," she said, "They’ve never been separated. They’ve been with each other every day of their life together, and he was taken right in front of them."