PRINTER'S NO. 2729
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
613
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY WARREN, DEAN, THOMAS, HENNESSEY, DRISCOLL,
MILLARD, DiGIROLAMO, LONGIETTI, DUSH, SONNEY, NEILSON,
KINSEY, READSHAW, KIRKLAND AND SCHLOSSBERG, NOVEMBER 20, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
NOVEMBER 20, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing December 10, 2017, as "Worldwide Candle Lighting
Day" in Pennsylvania and commemorating the work of The
Compassionate Friends.
WHEREAS, "Worldwide Candle Lighting Day" started in 1997 by a
group called The Compassionate Friends as a small Internet
observance to honor the memories of deceased sons, daughters,
brothers, sisters and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, "Worldwide Candle Lighting Day" is held on the
second Sunday in December every year and 2017 marks the 21st
annual "Worldwide Candle Lighting Day"; and
WHEREAS, During "Worldwide Candle Lighting Day," hundreds of
formal candle lighting events are held and thousands of informal
candle lightings are conducted in homes in quiet remembrance of
children who have died; and
WHEREAS, "Worldwide Candle Lighting Day" is now believed to
be the largest mass candle lighting in the world; and
WHEREAS, The Compassionate Friends, the organization that
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started "Worldwide Candle Lighting Day," was founded in England
more than 40 years ago with the purpose of providing comfort,
hope and support to families experiencing the death of a son or
daughter, brother or sister or a grandchild; and
WHEREAS, The Compassionate Friends publishes materials on how
to handle grief following the death of a child and engages
bereaved families through social media and an online support
community; and
WHEREAS, The first chapter of The Compassionate Friends in
the United States was established in 1972 and incorporated in
1978 in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, The Compassionate Friends has since grown to nearly
700 chapters serving all 50 states, as well as Washington, DC,
Puerto Rico and Guam, and also has a presence in more than 30
countries; and
WHEREAS, For four decades The Compassionate Friends has
provided peer support to bereaved families when it is most
needed; and
WHEREAS, Participating in "Worldwide Candle Lighting Day" is
a way for families who have lost a child to show that they will
always be loved and never forgotten; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize
December 10, 2017, as "Worldwide Candle Lighting Day" in
Pennsylvania and commemorate the work of The Compassionate
Friends.
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