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International Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day is observed annually around the world on October 15th at 7 pm.
Infants Remembered In Silence (IRIS) Candle Light Service
Friday October 15th
7pm
in front of the IRIS office
218 3rd Ave. NW Faribault MN
Everyone is invited to attend! We will be outside by the bronze statue of an angel weeping over an empty cradle. Please dress accordingly. If you have not already brought or mailed a heart with your child’s name to the office please bring it with you. You are also encouraged to bring a battery operated candle or candle in a jar for the candle lighting part of the service. If you would like to read a poem, sing, etc. please let us know. This candle lighting service will be on FB Live - 7 pm central time. If you are unable to join us Please light a candle at 7 pm in your time zone.
IRIS has arranged for many lotions across the state of MN and the USA to be lit in Pink and Blue. If you see any buildings lit in pink and blue (or purple) we ask that you please take pictures and share with us. MN Locations lit include but are not limited to:
- Enger Tower - Duluth Sperry Tower - Eagan Town
- Center Water Tower – Eden Prairie
- Flint Hills Discovery Center – Edina
- Infants Remembered In Silence Office - Faribault
- Paradise Center for the Arts -
- Premier Bank Electronic Sign - Faribault
- Roebling Bridge – Granite Falls
- Washington Square Building – Mpls
- 35W Bridge/St Anthony Falls Minneapolis
- Capella Tower – Mpls.
- Betty Dangers Ferris wheel - Mpls
- IDS Center - Minneapolis
- Lowry Avenue Bridge - Minneapolis
- SPS Tower/Accenture Tower - Mpls
- Target Field – MN Twins Stadium - Mpls
- US Bank – MN Vikings Stadium in Mpls
- Government Building - Morristown
- Martin Luther College Sign – New Ulm
- Premier Bank Electronic Sign - Owatonna
- MN State Fair Coliseum - St. Paul
- ONB Bank – Rochester
- Lincoln Plaza – St. Cloud I94 Water Tower – St. Cloud
- CHS Field - Saints Ball Field – St. Paul
- Premier Bank Electronic Sign - Owatonna
For more locations around the world visit the IRIS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/InfantsRememberedinSilence
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
Remembrance Month and Day HISTORY:
On October 25, 1988, President Reagan designated the entire month of October 1988 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. On that day he said:
“When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them. This month recognizes the loss so many parents experience across the United States and around the world. It is also meant to inform and provide resources for parents who have lost children due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirths, birth defects, SIDS, and other causes. Now, therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”
In 2002, Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown and Tammy Novak petitioned the federal government proclaim October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. Today, all 50 states have a yearly proclamation in honor of those who have lost a child during pregnancy or during infancy.
In recognition of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day many organizations across the USA and around the world host candlelight services and take part in the International Wave of Light by lighting a candle at 7 pm in their time zone or by attending events such as the service hosted by Infants Remembered In Silence at 7 pm in front of the IRIS Office (218 3rd Ave. NW Faribault MN 55021). Parents from all over the world are encouraged to mail a heart with their child’s name to IRIS. These hearts will be place in the statue of the Angel Looking over an empty cradle – I knew you in the womb by Tim P. Schmalz. Many parents, family members will also watch the service virtually on the IRIS Facebook page at 7pm.
