A place of hope Memorial ceremony Thirty-seven trees, including eight for Bathurst High crash victims, planted at International Children's Memorial Place in ceremony Sunday
SOUTH FREETOWN LORI A. MAYNE Transcontinental Media
John and Sandra Cleland plant a tree in memory of son Nathan at International Children’s Memorial Place in South Freetown Sunday. Nathan was one of the Bathurst High School basketball players killed in a New Brunswick highway accident in January. Transcontinental Media photo by Lori A. Mayne
Ana Acevedo feels like she died with her son.
But in the midst of a South Freetown park, she and her husband remembered his life with a tree growing in his memory.
"We lost a lot. We lost everything," said Francisco Acevedo. "There's no words to describe the loss."
Javier Acevedo was one of seven Bathurst High School basketball players killed in a New Brunswick highway accident in January.
The tree-planting at International Children's Memorial Place Sunday included 37 memorial trees this year.
Families of the basketball players from Bathurst High officially planted eight: one red maple for each of their "boys in red" and one for teacher Elizabeth Lord, who died in the same crash.
"We're all here to support each other," said Dale Branch, who lost son Codey in that tragedy.
"It's an important process in healing."
More than 200 people crowded around for the ceremony at the memorial place, built around scenic Scales Pond.
The ceremony included presentations of framed condolences to the Bathurst area families on behalf of the premier, as well as speakers offering prayers and words of understanding.
"I can't say it will get better because it won't," International Children's Memorial Place president Maitland MacIsaac told the crowd.
But he said he did believe their children remained close by.
John Cleland, who lost son Nathan in the January crash, found support in the place filled with people who understood the grief.
"We come here for solace. We come here for support. We come here to give support," he said.
"This event that happened to us was so public that it's very difficult to get away and to find some sort of solitude. This is ideal," he said, noting they could return to see Nathan's tree.
During the tree-planting, families placed plaques in the names of their loved ones and then used shovels and hands to pat down the red earth.
Family and friends wept. Some smiled, presumably at happy memories or caring words.
People hugged, carefully placed flowers and took pictures.
Susan Hubley of Summerside could relate to the pain of the families from the Bathurst area.
Hubley planted a tree in honour of her son, Connor Richard Alyre Arsenault, who died in infancy close to four years ago - the same day she lost her dad, Richard, to cancer.
"For me it will be a place of hope to see the tree growing," she said.
"Because I didn't get a chance to see my son grow. But I get to see a piece of life grow."
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eliot from PE writes: What a beautiful thought to have this memorial place to visit and give support to others that have experienced loosing a child---the worst thing that can happen to a family. God Bless
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