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Day of Remembrance &
Lantern Festival
| On September 12, 2005 Maple
Grove Cemetery celebrated its first annual Day of Remembrance & Lantern Festival. This occasion
offered families, friends and neighbors an opportunity to honor and reflect upon
the lives of their loved ones and those buried at Maple Grove. |
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The event began with
dedication of a “Story Stone” honoring the many African-Americans buried
in unmarked graves and hundreds of impoverished children and adults
brought to “common graves” from New York City homes and hospitals.
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| This is the first of
several boulders that will be dedicated over the next few years, to help
us understand the stories of hundreds of less known persons who found
their final resting place at Maple Grove Cemetery. The dedication
ceremony was led by Mama Donna, contemporary ceremonialist and “unofficial
Commissioner of Public Spirit of New York City”. |
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| From the boulder, a
procession led by two bagpipers led us through
the cemetery to the 9/11 Memorial that honors victims of the World Trade Center tragedy who are
buried at Maple Grove. Here, Fr. McCarron, pastor at the neighboring
Episcopal Church of the Resurrection at Richmond Hill
, led a remembrance ceremony. |
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| The procession then continued
to the Lakeview area of Maple Grove Cemetery. Here, those
present signed the names of loved ones on rice paper sheets
expressing the Intentions (mindful thoughts) of Love,
Inspiration, Hope, Charity, Protection, Peace, Faith and
Gratitude. After a time of reflection and peace – which also
included the opportunity to walk a labyrinth that has been built
in this area.
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At sunset, floating
lanterns – their side panels made from our rice paper Intentions – were launched
in the lake in a quiet, but exciting moment blessed by Mama Donna. The winds
were not quite with us, but the lanterns finally found their places in
the lake and Maple Grove’s duck colony accepted them with little
argument! |
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