The largest mass candlelighting on the globe is coming this weekend and a local group will be participating in Early on Sunday, December 8, 2013, at 6:30 P.M. This is the 17th year for the Bereaved Parents Support Group to join with the Compassionate Friends and host the Worldwide Candle Lighting for the area.
The candlelighting will be hosted, once again, by Heartland Mall. The families will gather inside, just in front of J.C. Penney, around their Angel Memorial Trees and participate in the Worldwide Virtual Wave of Light. The group will have their candles lit by 7 p.m. and they will remain lit until 8 p.m. A casual program is planned with music, poems and sharing. Everyone who has suffered the loss of a child, grandchild, sibling, spouse, parent or any friend or family loved one, is welcome to come and join this evening of lighting a candle in memory of a loved one.
Candles will be lit at midnight of the second Sunday in December, beginning in New Zealand and will continue in one hour sequences around the globe, creating the 24 hour virtual wave of light. The Wave of Light began in 1996 as a small internet observance, but has grown and increased until there are candlelight services around the globe. There were over 800 events registered in 2012 and expected to be more this year.
The Compassionate Friends is an organization that is available to all who have suffered the death of a child or grandchild. The local Bereaved Parents group participates in conjunction with the national group to host local events throughout the year, but due to the lack of support groups here, the Bereaved Parents feel the need to offer help to anyone who has lost a loved one. Everyone grieves after the death of a loved one so they open their arms and hearts to aid all grieving souls and offer positive ways to deal with the grief they endure.
The local Bereaved Parents group was founded in 1988 by a group of bereaved parents who needed support. The group originated with a group of around 20 who had lost children. In 1992, the Community Counseling Center of Howard Payne University took over the program under the direction of Marilyn Jackson and the help of several local leaders. Through changes at HPU, the community counseling center was closed and the group was left to find new leadership. Since 1994 it has been under the leadership of LaFreda Kilburn, who’s only child, a son, Scotty Purcell was killed in late 1993 in a pickup/train accident in Bangs.
The group has increased in size and in 1996 created the Angel Memorial Trees which stand every year inside Heartland Mall to honor all angels who have died. The trees now hold over 400 ornaments. The candlelight service is also held at Heartland Mall around the trees every year to honor all loved ones who have died.
The group meets monthly and host several special occasions such as the candlelighting and the balloon lift off in May. The group is geared toward helping grieving souls find a positive way to deal with their grief and simply offer support and friendship to the grieving. Anyone who would like to add an angel to the tree can simply contact LaFreda at 325- 998-1567, and one will be added at no charge.
Those attending the candle lighting need not bring anything, everything will be provided due to the generosity of the Bereaved Parents Support Group, in memory of all their angels.
