"We have paper and pens for the families and they will be writing notes to their loved ones, the children are drawing pictures," said Hospice Hawaii chaplain Clarence Liu.
A time to reflect and a time to heal.
"I think there’s always time for closure and something like this is such an honor to honor their memory and also to remember the good days," said Cindy Ballard who wrote a personal message to her father Fred Ballard, a Vietnam veteran who died in April. Her father was one of the founders of the Oahu Veterans Center in Foster Village. "Just being able to write down words of affirmation or whatever comes out of your heart, sometimes it could be anger, sometimes it could be fear or just whatever, whatever emotions come and just to realize that those emotions are real and their normal."
Emotions that are sometimes difficult to deal with. Hospice programs are there to help.
"In the United States hospices are making a direct appeal to helping veterans families," said Liu.
"The toll of the ship’s bell reminds us of the reverence we owe to our departed ship mates," said Vietnam War veteran Cecil Meadows.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service was held in honor of those who served.
"World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 1900 a day, so that’s an opportunity for the hospice community to step up and help those individuals through that process," said Caz Ross of the Office of Veterans Services. "You have an opportunity to in fact reflect, to remember, to get that final message that you wanted to be able to share."
The written messages were burned, symbolizing a prayer offering or simply a way to let go pain.
"I think it’s very important to continue to do it, to let the families know that it’s okay that they’re going to be alright," said Ballard.
"I think it’s the start of something really nice," said Bristol Hospice Hawaii Executive Director Brenda Whitney.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
