Grieving Parents Support Group, Hattiesburg Convention Commission and Forrest General Hospital are partnering to present Light Up the Night: A Sky Lantern Memorial Service in observance of National Children’s Memorial Day on Sunday, Dec. 9.
Lanterns will be available at Lake Terrace Convention Center at 6 p.m. with a brief presentation at 6:30 p.m. and the lantern lighting to follow at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
“We invite any and all who have lost a loved one and wishes to remember them on this special day to join us as we light small hot air lanterns to release in their names,” said Debbie Thomson, founder of Grieving Parents Support Group.
“We will be reassured in the fact that people across the world will, in kind, light up the sky simultaneously for one of the largest memorial events on the planet. By recognizing our loss each year, we seek to heal and grieve in a positive light for all to witness and join, in solidarity.”
This event is free and open to anyone who is grieving the loss of a child or family member this holiday season. Families are encouraged to attend together to honor their loved ones. Forrest General chaplains and counsellors from Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services will be available for those who would like to share or need more information about community resources.
This event is held in conjunction with The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting, which was started by The Compassionate Friends 22 years ago.
For more information, visit forrestgeneral.com/lightupthenight.
Grieving Parents Support Group offers a place for parents to talk about their child, their loss, fears, anger, anxieties, and other feelings. The group members help each other by sharing with others who have experienced the loss of their child.
