Who's Next?

Who else has to die before we realize?
Drunk driving is a problem and something has to change!
Will you be next to step up against this problem or will you be the next victim? Together we can make a difference.

Latest News

A second sign was unveiled, July 14, 2010. This sign is for Jon Wade Smith, a MODOT worker killed by a drunk driver in 1993.

David's Unveiling Event Ceremony
Check out the link to see the entire event.

More community events are being scheduled now.
For more information, contact Gail Rehme at gail.rehme@whosnext.us

Mission

My brother was killed by a drunk driver over 25 years ago, and it hurts my heart now more than it did then!

Our mission:
Who's Next will raise awareness to the risk associated with drunk driving, while providing educational opportunities to the community through family fun alcohol-free events.

What is this?
David's Law is a memorial sign program. The example in the upper right corner of this page is a sign for my brother the signs will be unique to each victim, as described further in the Proposal section. By placing each new sign, the level of awareness will be raised again and again.

Who's Next is a 501c3 non-profit organization established to aid in fundraising for families that would like a sign for their loved one. Who's Next will be sponsoring safe, family-friendly community events, and provide educational opportunities about the risks associated with this issue.

My Story

Who Am I?
I am David Louis Poenicke's little sister. I am the sixth child born to Barbara and Louis Poenicke.

What Am I Doing?
I have created a way to remember my brother and all of the other innocent people that have lost their lives due to the senseless act of driving while intoxicated.

Why am I doing this?
I miss my brother now more than when he died over 25 years ago. I will raise awareness to the pain that is still there and remind others that it never goes away.

This is my story -
I was ten-years-old the last time I saw my brother. David and his girlfriend headed downtown on Dave's motorcycle to a St. Louis Cardinal baseball game. After the game they stopped to grab a bite to eat and headed home. When they got on the highway they noticed the drinks were spilling on the seat. They pulled over on the shoulder... and that is when it happened. A man that had also been at the baseball game and had way too much to drink hit and killed my brother David, never to come home again. This one day changed my life forever.

I remember waking up in the night scared when I saw the Pastor from our church sitting with my parents in our living room. I can remember waking up the next morning to the sound of my father's voice saying get up and come sit down here on the floor beside me. My brother Gary and I shared a room and when we both sat at my father's side my dad said, "last night there was an accident and your brother David was killed by a drunk driver." The words still ring in my head. Why? In my ten-year-old mind I could not figure out why someone would take my brother from me. He was only 19 years old, I can remember thinking only old people die. So, he will never be able to take me to my softball games anymore... what about the glove he bought me? He wouldn't be able to see me use it. I can remember all of the people at my brother's funeral and a bunch of "big people" asking me if I was okay.

I can remember asking my mom why she was cleaning out my brother's drawers after the funeral. Our family was planning to travel to my cousin's wedding in Tennessee before my brother's death and her reply was "because when we get back home, he will not be here." Our family relied on faith to get us through this tough time. Knowing that our time on earth with David was done felt horrible, but knowing that we would see him again in heaven was huge. My parents were crushed, but remained strong for the other five of us. There were many times I remember my mom sitting out in the car when everyone else came in just to be alone.

I remember hearing my mom cry in the bathroom. As I got older I became bitter and angry. I remember how I just kept thinking this is not fair. It was in Junior High and High School when I first started to really take a stand as an advocate against drunk driving. I was the President for SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) in Junior High. I was a member of SADD in High School and chosen by my teacher to be a DARE Representative. I went to elementary school to tell children about what happened to my brother when I was ten-years old.

I graduated and my brothers and sisters were at my graduation, but not David. I married a man that loves the Cardinals just as much as my brother did, but never got to go to a game with him. My brothers, sisters and all of my husband's seven siblings were in our wedding, but not David. My first son was born. He also has a love for baseball, but his Uncle David will never be able to go to a game and see him play. It was a year before the 20th anniversary of David's death when I started thinking that there must be something we could do to remember him! I woke up one day and it was as if the memorial marker idea was just given to me from Higher hands; so I went with it!

Over the years my feelings have changed. I do not hate the man that killed my brother, it is because of him that I want to make a difference! I don't want anyone to have to feel the way my family feels. We will always have a hole in our hearts for my brother David. At first it felt that hole would never get smaller and 25 years later and we are still healing. So, that is why I am doing what I am doing...

Leave yesterday, Live today, Love forever!

Proposal

David's Law was signed by Govenor Jay Nixon 7/1/09, personalized memorial signs for victims of drunk drivers can be put up on Missouri highways to raise awareness to the preventable problem of drinking and driving...

Each sign will have the victim's initials, month and year in which they were killed. The signs are intended to serve not only as a dedication to those we lost, but also as an educational awareness reminder to the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. The signs will be at or near each crash location. People always wonder what happened when passing a cross or roadside memorial, this website will provide the story behind the crash.

If a family makes the decision to get a sign for their loved one, their personal story can be posted on this site to allow people to come and learn more about that special person. WHY??? Because we don't want them forgotten and we don't want this to happen to someone you love.

If only one driver chooses not to drive after drinking, our mission will be accomplished. Another life saved!

Other ways to help

Use Goodsearch when searching the web and enter "Who's Next" for your charity, and we will receive a penny for every search

Join our Facebook Cause