Worldwide Candle Lighting December 12 Remembers All Children Who have Died
With the holidays upon us, bereaved parents have a day all their own, Sunday, December 12 to remember a special child who has died. The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting, with support from the United States Senate, is being held Sunday, December 12 at 7 p.m. local time around the globe. Tens of thousands of people will participate and there will be an estimated 275 formal services in the United States alone.
Oak Brook, IL (PRWEB) December 7, 2004 -- This Sunday at 7 p.m. local time
tens of thousands of families around the globe are joining together for The
Compassionate Friends eighth annual Worldwide Candle Lighting to remember all
children who have died, no matter the age, religion, cause of death, or ethnic
origin.
“This is truly a worldwide event that allows bereaved families
everywhere the opportunity to unite following their combined loss and to show
the world that while a child may have died, that child was important and will
never be forgotten,” says Patricia Loder, executive director of The
Compassionate Friends, the world’s largest self-help bereavement
organization.
The candle lighting starts at 7 p.m. just west of the
International Date Line and proceeds west one hour later in the next time zone,
eventually encompassing the world in a 24-hour wave of light.
“Like a
ring, this circle of light surrounding the globe represents that there is no
beginning and no end for the love we carry for our children,” explains Mrs.
Loder. “It exists for all eternity.”
In the United States, approximately
275 formal services are planned by chapters of The Compassionate Friends, allied
organizations, funeral homes, and other caring groups and individuals. Thousands
of informal services in the home with friends and family are also being held in
areas where candle lighting services are not scheduled or persons are unable to
attend. Known services, including those in other countries, are listed with
information on The Compassionate Friends national website at www.compassionatefriends.org.
In recognition of The
Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting, the United States Senate
unanimously passed Resolution 436 in November recognizing December 12 as
National Children’s Memorial Day.
“Whether someone has suffered the
personal loss of a child, brother or sister, or grandchild, or simply wants to
show compassion to those who have, we encourage all to join with us in
remembering those children who are no longer here,” says Mrs. Loder. “We would
invite all to post a memorial message in our online remembrance book at our
national website the day of the candle lighting.”
The Compassionate
Friends has chapters in all 50 United States plus Puerto Rico and Washington DC
and nearly 600 total chapters in the country, offering friendship,
understanding, and hope to bereaved families. The organization has a presence in
an estimated 29 countries around the world. For information on a local chapter
or for other means of support, call The Compassionate Friends toll-free at
877-969-0010 or visit The Compassionate Friends national website.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/12/prweb186335.htm