News and Events
May 2011
CHERISH THE CHILD EVENT - 2011
 On Thursday, May 26th more than 150 people gathered to pay tribute to the memory of children who they have loved and lost. Cherish the child is an event offered by Abels & French-Hand Funeral Homes, that includes a memory walk and Service of Remembrance featuring a balloon release. Cherish the Child is truly a family event. Parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings and cousins all participate in this now annual ritual for honoring the memory of children who have died at any age – miscarriage through adulthood.
This year’s walk included a stretch through the woods along Pioneer Trail in Grundy Center. A friend who had a life after life experience once told me that after hearing the indescribably beautiful music of heaven she no longer enjoyed concerts or symphonies here on earth. I thought of this as my attention was drawn to the sweet sound of song birds along Pioneer Trail. I was reminded that the children we honor now listen to the songs of angels. While we walked a dirt path surrounded by the glory of lush green trees and blue skies, our children walk paths of gold surrounded by the glories of heaven.
The Remembrance Service featured parent, grandparent and sibling speakers sharing tributes to their beloved children as well as the things that have helped them survive and move forward in life. These tributes were very moving. Special music was also a part of the service.
The climax of the evening, however, was the balloon release.
Listening to a recording of Josh Groban sing: 
Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star I wish upon tonight
To see you smile If only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away’s not far
To where you are
We then released our balloons. They were tangible vessels of our love, our desire to touch and to hold our beloved children in our arms just one more time. This was a truly sacred moment. All eyes turned heavenward to follow the balloons bearing messages of love to the children.
 Cherish the child is a ritual that allows for the free and safe expression of deep sorrow at a time when our culture increasingly de-values ritual. Cherish the Child is a safe place for a father to weep openly for the death of his baby boy when such grief is no longer tolerated in the workplace and or, perhaps, even among family and friends. It is a safe place for a small child to re-connect with his brother by sending him a yellow balloon –his brother’s favorite color. Cherish the Child is an event that validates the pain of the death of a child and speaks a word of hope to those left behind and broken-hearted.
In the end, it is not the efforts of the planning committee that make Cherish the Child the success and precious experience it is for so many. It is, quite simply, Grace.
February 2011
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