15th Annual memorial for the homeless

The 15th annual memorial for the homeless was held today.

Dozens gathered to honor and remember those who have passed.

The touching service took place at Hawthorne Park today, where folks gathered to celebrate the loss of those who've died without homes.

The candle lit ceremony gave people an opportunity to grieve for those who are no longer with us.

Folks gathered around the same tree that's been used for the memorial service for years now and wrote memories and well-wishes on ribbons addressed to the ones they've lost.

Friends and families tied the ribbons to the symbolic tree, joining the ones from previous services.

Those we talked to say that the homeless deserve a memorial, and to them the ribbons represent the souls who've passed.

Chair of Grand Valley Homeless Coalition, Mollie Woodard said, “Have a grieving process for those who've passed, that's something that's really lacking in the homeless community, generally we take it for granted that we have ceremonial enjoyment of everyone’s lives when they have passed and that's something that the homeless community and providers that have touched those lives do not have.”

The event organizer also said that it's important for people to have awareness of their homeless community.

She added that she hopes the annual memorial service will encourage people to come together and join the homeless coalitions ten year plan to end

If you'd like to support the coalitions plan, you can visit its website at

www.gvcoaitionforthehomeless.org