Assiniboia as a town planned to honour the passing of their loved ones with the second annual Lights of Love Lighting Ceremony in 2020, to be held in Centennial Park north of the Kin Hut on Wednesday, November 18, beginning at 6 p.m.
The lights were on sale at the Assiniboia Town office until Oct. 30, where donation forms to support the event were also available.
A crew of volunteers in Assiniboia arrived at Centennial Park on Friday afternoon – they were stringing the Lights of Love around the trees to light up the second memorial ceremony – the first Lights of Love was held on November 13, 2019.
All of the collected names for Lights of Love will be published in the Assiniboia Times prior to this event as they were last year.
Remembering the passing of parents, children, close relatives and friends will endure for lifetime, even after the initial grieving stages have passed. Lights of Love in Centennial Park is a way cherishing the memories of those who were special and loved, but have drifted away from life on earth.
Giving remembrance is therapeutic and essential, since the shock of a passing loved one will last forever. A message from Piché-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapels in Assiniboia read: “Whether a death is sudden or expected, the loss of a loved one is indescribable. When you are in a heightened emotional state, even the most basic decisions can seem staggering,”
Alecia Milano, vice president of Milano Monuments in Cleveland Ohio, said: “There are few things in life more stressful and heart breaking than the death of a loved one. While end-of-life services are a time for loved ones to come together and celebrate a life, these events are also a whirlwind for the grieving. Life for surviving relatives continues after a death and everyday activities may feel impossible while grieving.”
Milano also gave a thoughtful statement on the importance of remembering those who are no longer with us.
“Memorialization is the act of preserving memories, events, or people and allows individuals to remember and honour their loved one.”
Events such as Lights of Love in Centennial Park on November 18 are vital for those who are grieving at any stage.
During the first annual Lights of Love in Centennial Park in 2019, candles were passed around as Assiniboia’s community choir sang Silent Night. When the trees circling the campsite in the park were lit in memory of those who had passed away, the glow was astounding.
Many spectators attending the event were present to remember their loved ones who wouldn’t be joining them for Christmas in 2019.
On the surface, the initial Lights of Love embodied personal grief, but there was also a sense of encouragement and the joy of sharing burdens, as everyone gathered around the campfire last November to light candles and hear the choir sing hymns of reverence.
