Evening of Remembrance October 2020

As our committee continues to plan for the Evening of Remembrance on October 6 at 6:00 pm, we carry all of you who will be attending in our hearts and thoughts.

We understand that you might have questions about what to expect from the Evening of Remembrance, especially if you are a family who will be burying or honoring a child. The following are some of the details you might be wondering about - but might not know how to ask. Please let us know if you have any other questions. 

• On Tuesday a Wings of Hope, a representative from Mankato Mortuary and Terry Miller of Calvary will place the remains of babies lost before 20 weeks gestation into a burial vault. The vault will be sealed before being taken to the Wings of Hope memorial site.
• A volunteer from the community sews burial blankets which wrap each baby's remains individually.
• The grave will be prepared and the burial vault will be placed at the Wings of Hope memorial site before the ceremony. 
• Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will not be providing chairs this time. Please bring your own if you need to sit during the service.
• The event will happen rain or shine, so please plan for the weather. In case of significant inclement weather we will move the service into the cemetery chapel (located near the Wings of Hope memorial site). 
• Chaplain Gary Creech of Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato will lead the ecumenical service. He is planning a heartfelt message of compassion, love, and hope.
• Not all families have remains for burial, which is why all families who have experienced pregnancy loss and newborn death will be invited during the service to place flowers at the burial vault in recognition of all children who have been lost. 
• The Wings of Hope committee provides fresh cut flowers. You are also welcome to bring your own if preferred.
• In recognition of October as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, we will also have a candle-lighting as part of our service. You may bring your own to light or use one of our ours.
• We will not be serving refreshments afterwards (COVID-19), but after the closing song you make take time to have your own reflections and take pictures at the memorial site to include in their own personal albums and family history records.
• After the ceremony, Terry will bury the vault at the perimeter of the paved walkway. A flat grave marker will be placed at a later date at this location with the month and year of the service.

It is our mission as a committee to be able to provide you, the families who have lost children, with a comforting and compassionate service. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
[email protected]

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