Stephen Bond Memorial

A heartbroken mother is still hoping her son will be found alive.
"If I could get in this water and swim every every inch of the Gulf of Mexico to find my child I would, "said Susan Vallette as she clutched pictures of her son Stephen Bond.

Bond, an Ocean Springs police officer and four of his friends were out at sea when their boat capsized back on May 17th. Nearly everyone was rescued about nine miles Southwest of Ship Island, except Stephen. He was last seen clinging to the bow of the boat.
"If he's out there he doesn't deserve to be left under the water or caught in debris he deserves to come home and be treated with dignity and respect,"Said Vallette.

After the Coast Guard called off their search, Bond's family hired a private party. They still have a person in Virginia monitoring the water currents everyday.
While memories help her get through the days, Vallette won't let her son go until he is found.
"I need him for that closure, I need him to come home...if he can't come home alive I need to be able to bury my child,"Said Vallette.
A memorial service for Stephen Bond will be held tomorrow.
The service begins at 2 pm at First Baptist Church in Ocean Springs. Bond will be given both police and military honors.

Donations are being accepted at Hancock Bank under the "Stephen Bond Recovery Benefit Fund".