Jim and Denise Fidler, left, stand by the soon to be decorated tree with Roger and Monica Lambright. Both families lost children and partake in the annual ceremony of sending off a lantern in remembrance. This year, Denise and Monica have asked that families join them to hang ornaments on the tree for the loss of children or siblings. (Photo by Chelsea Los)

SYRACUSE — Beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, in the gazebo at Syracuse Lakeside Park, parents of children who have passed on are welcome to bring and hang an ornament representing their child’s memory. There also all be a lantern lighting ceremony beginning at 7 p.m., weather permitting. This is an international ceremony performed worldwide on this date and time honoring and keeping the memory alive of children who have passed on before parents or loved ones. The tradition was started by the Compassionate Friends years ago and helps parents and siblings get through the holidays by knowing others still care and miss their child/sibling, and it can keep the memory alive.

Roger and Monica Lambright and Jim and Denise Fidler lead a grief support group for parents, caregivers and siblings suffering the loss of a loved child on the second Tuesday each month from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Vineyard Church on SR 13 in Syracuse. Any support from others in any way, whether spoken, unspoken, a smile, a note card, a text or a simply a lantern lit in memory of the child gone before, makes a huge statement of compassion and caring for those who often don’t know why or how to cope, particularly during the holidays.

The event is open to any parent, family or sibling who has experienced the loss of a child. The price of reserving a lantern is a suggested donation of $5, but not required. The deadline for reserving a lantern is noon Saturday, Dec. 12. If you would like to sponsor a lantern in a child’s name for a family, please text or call Denise at (574) 529-3595 or Monica, (574) 518-1826 to reserve one.

There will be refreshments before and after the ceremony.

If you can’t make it, you may bring an ornament to hang at any time before the end of the year. They will store them for next year and the tradition will continue. The goal is to provide a bit of peace through light in a season that brings the most difficult sadness imaginable. Lighting a lantern and watching it float off into the sky is very comforting.

Donations may be dropped off at Vineyard Church in Syracuse. To contact the church, call (574) 457-4880, or you may contact Denise or Monica.