Events
2011 Annual Ceremony of Remembrance
Saturday, September 10th at 1PM
Rain date of the following Saturday, the 17th, also at 1PM
The Ceremony of Remembrance is usually the first or second Saturday after Labor Day each September at the Lighthouse in the early afternoon. It's a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to come together to remember, mourn and celebrate the lives of their children.
In case of severe weather, the Martha's Vineyard Museum makes the decision whether or not to hold the ceremony by 5:00PM on the Friday before the Ceremony. A recorded message will be placed on the phone system, and can be accessed "after hours".
The phone number is 1-508-627-4441.
For people coming from off Island, the lighthouse is a short walk from Edgartown Harbor. In the summer and fall there is a small passenger ferry that runs between Falmouth and Edgartown Harbor several times a day.
The other ferries leave from Woods Hole, Hyannis and New Bedford, arriving in Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven. You can catch a shuttle bus from those towns to Edgartown or take a taxi. It's only a few miles. On our travel page there are links to ferry schedules and other information about traveling to and staying on Martha's Vineyard or Cape Cod.
Because the lighthouse is on the beach, in the sand, it is unfortunately not handicap/wheelchair accessible. Nor can it be driven to.
Previous Events
September 2009
The gathering was introduced by David Nathans, the new executive director of Martha's Vineyard Museum, and Betsey Mayhew from the Children's Memorial Committee. Rev. John Schule of Edgartown led the group in prayer. Music was provided by MVRHS (Martha's Vineyard Regional High School) senior, Hannah Marlin, her father Howie and Mark Hahn.
It was a lovely day and about 150 attended. There are now 465 stones.
September 2008
About 150 people attended the ceremony this year. That's my unofficial guess. It was the first time many had a chance to see the renovated lighthouse and make the climb to the top for the spectacular views of the stones and across the water. On a clear day, you can see Cape Pogue at the end of Chappiquiddic. The weather was rainy in the morning with a few drops just before and after the ceremony. But all in all, the weather was quite nice. Betsey Mayhew opened the ceremony. She spoke movingly about her involvement with the memorial and some of the work that has gone into it this past year. Craig Dripps of the board of directors and the lighthouse committee spoke as did Rev. Dr. John Schule,both with kind and touching words. Mark Alan Lovewell, musician, storyteller and member of the board of directors, exuberantly expressed the celebratory nature of the memorial; speaking of how something so wonderful has come out of such great loss. He encouraged everyone to embrace the memorial, that it is ours. He spoke of the renovation and the ties of the lighthouse to so many and to the communities of Martha's Vineyard. Karen Felder and Sharon Mello, played music and sang for us.
From the cover of the printed program:
For the families of these children, whose interrupted lives are here remembered, let this lighthouse be a beacon through the darkness of grief, reminding and assuring with its brightness a safe harbor has been reached.
June 2008 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Renovated Lighthouse
Keith Gorman, executive director of the museum, and members of the board of directors officially unveiled the renovated lighthouse and honored some of the people whose hard work made it possible.
The Town of Edgartown chose the lighthouse as the recipient of community preservation funds. This was an extensive project, covering everything from metal integrity, to lead paint issues, to the installation of a spiral stair instead of the former, rather intimidating, hand over hand ladder hanging in mid air.
Because of the sensitive ecological conditions at shoreline, all work on the lighthouse must be approved by numerous local, state and federal agencies. Just navigating the paperwork involved is a mind boggling task.
In addition, due to the generosity of the Blum family who have given funds to the museum to ensure public access to the lighthouse, there will be a lighthouse keeper to give tours and allow the public inside on summer weekends.
This means we are now able to climb to the top. From there we can look down on the cobblestones or out across the water; our eyes traveling the same path as the beacon of light.
The 2007 Ceremony of Remembrance was not held due to lighthouse restoration
The Martha's Vineyard Museum as caretaker of the Edgartown Light received Community Preservation funds from the Town of Edgartown for restoration and renovation of the lighthouse. Work commenced at summer's end. As a result, the Ceremony was not held.
Here is a picture of the new staircase, taken in June 2008, and a picture of the old hand over hand ladder that was inside the lighthouse for ages.
September 2006
The Ceremony for 2006, was held on a beautiful Saturday September afternoon. Betsey Mayhew, the staff and volunteers of the museum, continued to make it a wonderful and memorable day. Different things have been tried over the last few years. This ceremony was intentionally quieter, calmer than the others.
It is felt that even though there is comfort gained from the presence of others
and given to others in return, it is very much a private time for families. Each of us caught in our own recollections and memories.
This year it was a time for few speeches, a loving prayer, music that touched hearts and a chance for reflection or contact with friends. It ended as it often does, with the flyover by Dick Sherman in his vintage plane, Warbird. It is a moment that is always a fitting and breathtaking closing, all eyes raised watching, mesmerized as he circles the Lighthouse.
September 2005
The Ceremony for 2005, originally scheduled for September 17, 2005 was postponed and held on its rain date of September 23rd.
Tropical Storm Ophelia brought strong winds, rain and heavy seas to Martha's Vineyard and the surrounding area on Friday the 16th, with an uncertain forecast for Saturday.
The weather cooperated nicely the following weekend and despite the rescheduling, a number of families were able to attend. It was a little bit lower key, but people said it was still a wonderful opportunity and were glad it was able to be held.
September 2004
Sadly, the Ceremony for 2004, had to be canceled because of bad weather. The remnants of Hurricane Ivan, intermixed with a cold front, brought gale force winds and rain to Martha's Vineyard the weekend of September 18th.
On Saturday there were torrential rains and the wind remained through Sunday. One family I heard from made it to the Island on Saturday morning, but did not get to Edgartown and spent much of their day just trying to get back to Hyannis. Other families made their way to the lighthouse on Friday or Saturday morning, early, before the rain, and a few ventured down there during the periods of heavy rain.
Weather is an important part of life on the Island. At the memorial that weekend, with the rain flying sideways, stinging my face, I was reminded what an important role the Edgartown lighthouse has played in the lives and history of Martha's Vineyard. In the middle of the nineteenth century, the light could be seen fourteen miles out to sea. For a community where so many lives were tied to the water, in little wooden boats, it not only meant home and safety. Sometimes it meant life itself. Now those children and their stones are a part of that. And that, I think, is a good thing.
September 2003
It was a gorgeous late summer day. The weather was nearly perfect. A little windy as the island often is. Matthew Stackpole, the executive director for the museum spoke a bit about the memorial and the serenity and peace that envelops it, wonderful, but different at every time of day. Rick Harrington and the Reverend Dr. John Schule spoke. Kate Taylor sang. All in all, it was a lovely day.
July 2002
Matthew Stackpole, executive director of the Museum, opened the ceremony. He spoke of the effect of the Memorial upon so many, families and visitors alike.
Rick Harrington introduced parents, Roberta Hoffman, Caroline Delicata and Judith Smart. They spoke and shared a little of their loss, their child and what the memorial represents to them.
Craig Dripps closed the ceremony, telling us of Dick Sherman, his vintage plane, "Warbird", and his son who is honored with a stone. This year, as last year, the ceremony ended with Dick circling the lighthouse in his plane. It was a beautiful summer day, the sky was a brilliant blue, we all raised our eyes, turned and followed the path of the plane as it paid tribute to his son, to all of the children and to the people who had gathered there that day to celebrate and remember.
I've noticed both years, that everyone, when they mention the ceremony, talks about the plane and how wonderful it was. It's their favorite part. It seems to capture the spirit of the day for them more than anything else.
One of the parents, writing to me, expressed it beautifully. She said she...."loved the last touch of the airplane circling the lighthouse 'like a circle of love' with a trail of smoke. It was so moving and symbolic, just like all these deceased children who had flown into their parents and families lives for a very brief, yet stunning period of time and then left on a cloud over the horizon, never to be seen again".
July 2001
The first ceremony. A remarkable day, everyone coming together to celebrate the children and the vision and hard work involved in establishing the memorial - the culmination of that dream. For me, it was a wonderful chance to meet with parents I had come to know only through email while creating the earlier version of this web site. It was also the start of my love for the island of Martha's Vineyard and the people I have come to know.
This photograph is by Jamie Smart, a lovely, vibrant teenager who died a year after taking this and is memorialized with a stone at the lighthouse. It seems a fitting way to honor writing about the first ceremony.
"Leaving on the Porch Light", by John Budris, was featured in the printed program several times. It's an extraordinarily moving and fitting tribute to the inspiration and hard work that went into creating the Memorial.
For more information, on events or any other questions,
please contact:
The Martha's Vineyard Museum
59 School Street
P.O. Box 1310 (mailing address)
Edgartown, MA 02539
508-627-4441 telephone
508-627-4436 fax