3rd Annual Butterfly Release Memorial and Honor Event

On Saturday, September 10, 2011, Hospice Caring held our third butterfly release. People who sponsored butterflies in memory and honor of loved ones were invited to walk through the butterfly tent and whisper their wishes to the butterflies that landed on them. A string quartet played beautiful music in the background. As our color guard, the Seneca Valley High School JROTC cadets presented the colors in a flag ceremony to begin the memorial program. The indoor program began with a remembrance of September 11, 2001, a moment of silence, and personal stories related by Jeannette Mendonca, the executive director of Hospice Caring. The event continued with a dedication and reading of new memorial bricks for the Cottage garden, the reading of loved ones' names for which butterflies were sponsored, and music and inspirational readings. Last, we gathered outdoors near the butterfly tent, and the butterflies were released. Participants who had sponsored the new bricks laid roses near their bricks in the Cottage garden.