It was back in April 1977 that I remember losing my father to a sudden heart attack while he was serving at a funeral.  As a teenager you remember where you were when you were first told and then the rest of the visitation, funeral, and following time is somewhat forgot except for a few specific moments of that time period that just seem to stick out, even now forty years later, in your mind.

One of those moments that I remember vividly to this day is Christmas eve.  When I was growing up, our family’s Christmas eve ritual was dinner, then to church services, and then back home to sit around the Christmas tree and open presents.  Well, for me the Christmas season had went along in 1977 pretty uneventful as we ate dinner and went to church surrounded by many people.  I still to this day, though, remember coming home and sitting around the tree and an immense empty feeling hit me that I can still feel to this day — Dad was not there!

You see, around our house on Christmas eve, Dad was the guy that passed out presents, put batteries in toys, and generally was just excited to see his children enjoying that evening.  I don’t think I am unique in that children who have lost parents really have a hard time at Christmas — partly because the tradition and familiarity with the season is upended with the loss.

Most funeral homes, ours included, try to do something special for families to remember and honor their loved ones at Christmas.  We recently did a story about funeral homes making and giving away memorial tree ornaments and the like.  And, as a small funeral home, as much as we would all like to do, we understand that there are also budgetary constraints.

However, I recently saw a news video which gave me an idea – and while it may not help any families in my area with grieving – the idea came where I could team up with veterans groups and others who may want to give a Christmas remembrance of a deceased parent to children on a bigger scale.  And who knows, maybe by helping others in need, those grieving in your community might feel the Christmas spirit and feel good about helping others with their grief.

The video that I am talking about is here.  It is a report on the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express where they do something special for the children who have lost parents while serving in the United States Military.  In my opinion, it is an incredible service to our country that Sinise and his group do and I’m guessing that when you watch this video it will cause a lump in your throat and tears on your cheeks.

In addition to what you do for the bereaved in your own community, how about next year teaming up with veterans groups to raise some money and awareness of the Gary Sinise Foundation.  My guess is that it will not only bring positive public relations to your firm, but all those that help will get a great feeling of helping our nation’s Gold Star Children remember there father or mother who gave their life in service to our country.

You can learn more about the Gary Sinise Foundation here.