National
Children's Memorial Day
(NCMD) Events
MISS
ID NCMD Event:
Beginning with a candle
lighting across the hemisphere
that touches down here in
our own community, the world
recognizes the second Sunday
of December, as a special
day of remembrance. In the
State of Idaho - Sunday,
December 14th of 2003 is
proclaimed as Children Memorial
Day.
For a second year, The M.I.S.S.
Foundation Idaho families,
friends, along with caregivers,
and businesses volunteer
to help organize an evening
memorial event, providing
a safe haven to participate
in the Worldwide Candle
Lighting. Bereaved parents,
siblings, grandparents,
families and friends are
invited to this candle lighting
program to honor and remember
a child, of any age that
has died. Those that serve
grieving families with care
are encouraged to attend.
This is a community service,
all are welcome.
Inspirational singer, Jaime
Thietten and the Saint Paul
Baptist Gospel Choir will
perform a beautiful live
music tribute. Keepsake
candles and refreshments
are provided free of charge,
there is no charge to attend.
Held on Sunday. December
14, at the New Heights Christian
Fellowship Church, located
at 9950 W. Ustick Road in
West Boise. Guest registration
begins at 6:00, program
starts at 6:30PM Call 208-861-2407
for an event flyer or to
register for complimentary
child care services.
The holidays are often difficult
for those families where
a child has died, a year-round
hurt that is highlighted
with seasonal reminders
of this terrible loss. Please
take the time to remember
a child or children by attending
this community program,
or to light a candle in
your home or church.
As no family should ever
have to endure the pain
of their child's death alone
Mothers and Dads in Sympathy
and Support, offers monthly
support groups meetings
and more.
An all volunteer, non-profit,
peer grief support group;
offering friendship &
understanding.
www.missfoundation.org -
email: missfoundationidaho@msn.com
- 208-861-2407
WA State MISS NCMD event:
Sunday, December 14th,
5pm to 6pm
At The Hardware Store on
Vashon Island, WA
Children's Memorial Day
Event
This is a national holiday for remembering the 80,000 children who die each year in the U.S. On Vashon, KotaPress is doing Loss Awareness work every day of the year. On this particular day, we are partnering with WA MISS Chapter, VYFS, IDVOS, The Hardware Store, and any other Vashon organization wishing to show support for honoring the memory of the children we've lost too soon.
The holiday season is very difficult for bereaved families, and many times friends and family fear saying the "wrong" things or that it might be "inappropriate" to bring to mention the child who has died. But we suggest that during the holiday season, families are remembering and grieving their children anyway. And often times they would like nothing more than to remember *all* their kids, living and dead. This event gives you a way to show support in remembering their *whole* family. If you are buying presents for other living children, this holiday can be the time to make a memorial donation in memory of the child who has died -- thereby remembering *all* the children in your gift giving.
During our event on Vashon, we'll have a space for anyone wishing to bring & display photos, momentos, items that might remind you of the child you are missing. Paper and pen will be provided for you to write notes or letters to your deceased oned one's. We'll offer a time for people to say the child's name outloud. And we'll provide other support resource information for anyone attending.
This Vashon Children's Memorial Day event is open to anyone and is non-denominational. This is for parents whose children have died at any age. This is for friends, family, caregivers. This is for anyone who misses a child who died at any age due to any circumstance.
History & Background of this holiday: Children's Memorial Day happens every year on the second Sunday of December and is observed internationally. Families around the world light candles at 7 p.m. in their corresponding time zones. This remembrance ceremony provides the world with lit candles for an entire 24 hour period in order to honor the children we have lost, the children who lived and died, and who, even in death, continue to matter.
For more information, please contact Kara Jones at KotaPress: editor@kotapress.com or leave voice mail at 206-251-6706.
For other MISS Chapter events around the country, click here...
MISS
Foundation Information
The M.I.S.S. Foundation
was founded in 1996 and
is an international non-profit
501(c ) 3 organization
which offers immediate and
on-going support for families
experiencing the death of
a child from any
cause. We offer local support
groups, bilingual support,
resources, free funeral
planning, peer counseling,
newsletters, camps for grieving
kids, and a wonderful website
(www.missfoundation.org).
We also believe strongly
in community education and
awareness. We offer various
programs that range from
healthy baby education to
bereavement support to annual
conferences and seminars
for medical professionals
helping provide psychosocial
intervention to grieving
families . For more information,
please contact the National
MISS Foundation offices
at 623.979.1000.
