More than 100 Attend The Compassionate Friends 16th Worldwide Candle Lighting

Loved ones gather to honor those who passed.

Video and photos from the event by Jerry Freeman

(SALEM) - Communities across the globe joined in The Compassionate Friends 16th Worldwide Candle Lighting on December 9, 2012.

The organization's Salem Chapter held their candle lighting event on the Oregon state capitol steps.

The names of children who have passed were read aloud to a gathered crowd of more than 100 people.

Special music and poems accompanied the reading of names throughout the hour and candle lighting service. Some families brought pictures and small remembrances.

Organizers were sure to remind attendees that the event welcomes all family and friends including parents, grandparents, siblings, and others so they could honor those who are missed.

Names of Children who have passed that were read at the Salem event:


Michael Alexander
Michael Anderson
Terrance Ayers Hayden
Grace Baxter
Peyton Alexis Baxter
Jamey Bergara
Georgia Bonner
Elijah Brayden
Bill Buchholz
Lynn Carnes
Jordan Case
Anthony Chance Choate
Jason Thomas
Danny
Clark Danny
Shawn DeCew
Misty Dawn Dees
Max Lee DeLano
Bobbie DeLany
Jacom Easly Zachary
Ryan Ellis
Michael Erickson
Ted Fauver
Jason Scott Fowler
Sonia Garci
Sonja Monique Garcia
Tony Giles
Troy Austin Goodpasture
Grace Christian Gunderson
Jerusalem Sky Hartley
Lane Hartley
Jodie Christa Hatzenbihler
Raymond Hausserman
Rangal Hayes
Zac Herigstad
Dawson Harrison Hunt
Devin Tyler Hunt
Ezra James
Dannielle Marguerite
Johanna Cherish Jamieson
Kathy Lavon Jeffers
Kevin Wayne Montgomery
Jeff Lamp
David Lazzarotto
Chris Lindsay
Gabriel Lee Louthan
Chris Lukesic
Kegan Lukesic
Joshua James McNamara
Andrew Mellon
Danyelle Mendershausen
Danny Mrotek
Teri Michele Muncrief
Kelly Lynn Nesmith
McKenzie Otjen
Wyatt Palmer
Chad Peterson
Ezperansa Plietz-Urrea
Heather Reidy
Jenny Rybka
Ezra Saffeels
Daniel Sayer
Cori Rae Sohn
Tim Steffler
Siane Taverner
Paiten Toliver
Debra Turner
Brian Shane Underwood
Glenda Kay Walton
Brenda Lee Weber
Katrina Weter
Zachery Williamson

(Editor's note: if any of the names are incorrect, it is because they were translated from a document that had a few missing letters. Families, please advise if any misspellings are present and they will be corrected immediately, you can simply leave a comment at the bottom of this column, please accept our apologies.)

Learn more, visit: http://www.compassionatefriends.org/WCL_Misc/2012_services/OR.aspx

Edited by Tim King for Salem-News.com

Teaming up with Salem-News.com he embarked on a new career as a video news photographer and reporter. Jerry's quick exhibition of natural talent and ability to shoot breaking news led to his becoming a published member of the Salem-News.com team.