Author’s note: The title of the article has been altered for clarify and conciseness.
Originally published in the Platte County Record-Times September 22, 2021
WHEATLAND — On September 11, 2021, people who lost children and young family members gathered in Lewis Park to walk in remembrance of their lost loved ones.
The idea for the event was to bring together people who have lost relatives and help each other work through a shared grief.
“There’s a large community here in Wheatland and in Platte County of parents that have lost young people,” said Lauren Wyndham, an assistant organizer.
“For years, as a community, we’ve wanted to come together to help each through this grief walk. It is a journey for oneself, but it is so important that we travel together on this and be together for each other’s support.”
The Remembrance Walk was primarily organized by Susanna Rocha with help from Wyndham.
“Susanna is the primary organizer for this event,” said Wyndham. “She has been the one to contact people, to make sure that all of the wonderful things that we are able to do today are here.”
For Wyndham, the reason for helping organize this event was the loss of her daughter Greer in a car accident 17 years ago only days before her birthday and high school graduation.
The events of the walk began at one in the afternoon with a concert in the bandshell. Later in the afternoon, the Powder River Band would perform.
During the first performance, a list of the names of the lost relatives was read. Andre Rocha was the reader of the list. Andre was the brother of Angel Rocha, a son of Susanne who passed away in 2015.
After the list was read, participants could walk a circuit within the park. Inspirational signs and tributes of lost relatives were placed along the path for walkers to observe and pay respect.
“We’ve had marvelous musicians at the bandshell,” said Wyndham. “There have been clergy in attendance to offer support, prayer, and to be available for parents and friends.”
In addition to the walk, a small number of supporting vendors were present.
“We have a birthday table that Chuck and Katie Brown have sponsored,” said Wyndham. “We have shirts available that Twisted Threads have done for a small fee.”
“There’s also a gift table that several different family members in the community have made donations for gifts for parents to take with them to have tangible thing for the memory of the walk.”
Wyndham believed that the event was a success and hoped that it would continue.
“One of the meaningful things that happened here was the reading of the names of our children out loud,” said Wyndham.
“One of our greatest gifts is to hear our children’s names out loud. As the years go by, please say their names.”
James Meyer 