MEMORIAL RECOGNIZES YOUNG LOST LIVES
Published on Wednesday, December 6, 2000
Section: Smart Living
Page: E1
© 2000 The Arizona Republic

Byline: By Michelle Craig, The Arizona Republic

One fear of parents whose child has died is that their son or daughter will be forgotten.

Phoenix resident Linda Schmidt, who lost her 10-week-old son, Skyler Kirby, to interstitial viral pneumonia in January, says it's something she won't let happen.

Schmidt, her husband, Bruce, and their other children, ages 2 and 6, will gather with families from across the state Sunday to honor and recognize their deceased young loved ones at the National Children's Memorial Day Candlelight Memorial Ceremony.

"We do this because we haven't forgotten and we don't want others to either," said Schmidt, 32. "It's to recognize my son's life and honor him."

The event, which will take place at Wesley Bolin Plaza, marks the Valley's second official remembrance of lost young lives since President Clinton issued a proclamation in 1998 designating the second Sunday of December a national holiday. It is sponsored by Mothers in Sympathy & Support and Compassionate Friends, Arizona West Chapter, both non-profit organizations that provide support to families who have lost loved ones.

M.I.S.S. founder Joanne Cacciatore says the vigil is part of a worldwide recognition in which people across the globe will light candles at 7 p.m. in their time zones. The Peoria resident, whose daughter Cheyenne died seven years ago shortly before birth, says honoring children in this manner not only celebrates a life, but helps one cope with a death.

"It's a day to remember," Cacciatore said. "We have days to remember presidents who have died, when Elvis died and all kinds of days to memorialize people who have died. But never have we had such a day to memorialize the worst type of grief, which is the death of a child."

Government statistics estimate that more than 228,000 children and young adults die in the United States each year. In addition, more than 30,000 babies are stillborn.

"We all get wrapped up in the day-to-day stuff. People should think about their own child's mortality and be grateful for the family you have," Cacciatore said.

More than 300 people are expected to attend the ceremony, which will feature the Phoenix Children's Cadet Choir, accompanied by Cactus Pine Girl Scouts doing sign language, a governor's proclamation and speeches by elected officials and representatives from invited organizations whose focus is to help families during the bereavement period.

For more information, call (623) 979-1000.

Color photo by Emmanuel Lozano/The Arizona Republic
Chart Published correction ran 12/7/00: The location for the National Children's Memorial Day Candlelight Memorial Ceremony was listed incorrectly in a story that began on Page E1 Wednesday and in an accompanying box on Page E3. The event will be held Sunday at Patriots Square in downtown Phoenix. A candle is lighted in Wesley Bolin Plaza. Annual vigils are held nationwide on Children's Memorial Day.
If you go
NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL DAY CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL CEREMONY

WHAT: To honor the loss of young lives.

WHERE: Wesley Bolin Plaza, 17th Avenue and Jefferson Street, Phoenix.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. (sunset), Sunday.

Reach the reporter at michelle.craig@arizonarepublic.com or at (602) 444-8671.

Return to Articles Page