FeedsCanton woman leads annual vigil
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Gail Lafferty (front left) and other members of The Compassionate Friends of Western Wayne County stand beside a tree that holds ornaments with names of lost loved ones.Scores of metro Detroit residents will participate in an international effort to celebrate the lives of children who died too soon.
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of Western Wayne County will host a candle lighting ceremony this Sunday, Dec 10, at Kellogg Park in Plymouth to honor the memories of children who have died and to help parents and other family members deal with their loss during the holidays.
International Children’s Memorial Day dedications are scheduled to happen all over the world at 7 p.m. As candles burn down in one time zone, candles will be lit in another creating 24-hour memorial event organizers describe as the “Lights of Love.”
The Kellogg Park memorial service will also include the dedication of a tree designed with ornaments listing the names of children who died as well as songs and poetry readings.
“This time of year is especially hard for anyone who has lost a child,” said Gail Lafferty, a Canton Township resident and co-leader of TCF. Lafferty who lost her teenage son, Max, to a car accident in 1995, said being involved with the Compassionate Friends is therapeutic and the candle lighting ceremony helps her get through the holidays.
“It doesn’t matter how long it was or how they died or what age. They are gone and we miss them.”
Virginia Herrick, who became a part of TCF after her son, Steve, died from complications of cancer, said the memorial service is important because it keeps the memory of their children alive.
“A great fear for a parents is your child will be forgotten. When you lose a child, it’s a different type of loss,” said Herrick, who participated in her first vigil in 1999. Herrick estimates more than 250 people come to Kellogg Park every year for the memorial. She said the event is a true family event with mom, dad, brothers and sisters coming to remember their loved one.
“I love the group and the people. I had to come back every year.”
The candlelight event is also important because it lets people know a group is available. Besides organizing the local International Children’s Memorial Day events, TCF hosts monthly meetings in Livonia and counsels parents and other family members experiencing loss. Many times people follow-up their appearance at the vigil by coming to the meeting.
For those concerned about the bad weather or extreme cold, Lafferty said she has a solution.
“We can have terrible weather all day and just before the ceremony begins, it stops. Our children are looking down and helping us out.”
There is still time to have your child or sibling added to the list of names and tree ornament dedication. Contact the Compassionate Friends of Western Wayne County at 734-981-4528 or www.tcflivonia.org.
