Every year, on the second Sunday in December the world unites by lighting candles at 7 p.m. around the globe for one hour to honor and remember children who have passed away.

As the candles are extinguished at the end of the hour in one time zone, they are lit in the next. The goal is to have a flame burning continuously for 24 hours that special day. This is The Compassionate Friends Livonia Chapter's 14th year participating in the candle lighting.

"Five hours ago the first candle was lit in England," said Pat O'Donnell, a former Livonia Chapter leader, in his opening remarks. "For 24 hours, candles will be lit around the world."

O'Donnell, along with another former chapter leader, Gail Laffterty, read more than 600 children's names who have passed away. The ceremony also included a few readings, a poem read aloud and the song "Precious Child" by Emily Richards.

The Compassionate Friends support group was founded in 1969 and now has 630 chapters in the United States.

"So many people just don't know what to say or do around a bereaved parent," said Brenda Hernandez, co-leader for The Compassionate Friends Livonia Chapter. "The number one thing a parent wants to do is talk about their child. And everyone is afraid to even mention the name, they don't want to upset or remind you if you're having a good day. They don't understand that child is with you 24/7. Their names are music to our ears.

"We want to talk about them, we want to hear your stories about them," she said. "Just keep their memory alive."

Hernandez lost her 18-year-old daughter, Courtney Nicole to a drunk driver. She has been a part of The Compassionate Friends Livonia Chapter for five years and lives in Flat Rock.

"Death is a part of life, people tend to run and hide and not deal with it," Hernandez's husband John said. "If people can make it through life without experiencing the loss of a child, great. But this happens to a lot of people. This is a way for people to come together and feel like they're not alone."

Kathy Rambo is another co-leader for the Livonia chapter. She has been a part of the organization for ten years, and first started coming about two months after she lost her son.

"I went first to a spousal support group, and I just couldn't relate to people who lost a spouse, it's just different than a child," she said. "Everybody who is in the group knows. And you can't know unless you lose a child, what you go through. It's hard. And I will never be the same person. We're like a new person trying to live without our child."

South Lyon resident Julie LaPlante lost her 16-year-old daughter Lauren in a car accident five years ago and has been attending the candle lighting ceremony in Kellogg Park ever since.

"The first year we (family and friends) all came and saw some of the memorial trees," LaPlante said. "The next year, they surprised me with one. We decorate it every year."

LaPlante does not attend The Compassionate Friends meetings. She just participates in the candle lighting and visit's her daughter's memorial tree on Christmas day.

"This time of year is really tough," LaPlante said. "The first year, just the dauntingness of the names and knowing that I wasn't alone, I just appreciate it."

Joseph and Shelia Klock of Farmington Hills lost their 34-year-old son, Joseph Jr., to suicide. This is their second year attending the candle lighting ceremony.

"We started out at a few other groups, but I just couldn't talk, so I quit going," Shelia Klock said. "It's freezing out here, but we enjoy coming here."

 "We tried to talk at the groups but we just cry," Joseph Klock said.

The Klocks took their son's ornament off of The Compassionate Friends' tree in Kellogg Park to take with them.

"We really appreciate the people who do this," Shelia Klock said.

The Compassionate Friends next meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan 6, 2011 at St. Timothy's Church at 16700 Newburgh Rd in Livonia. For more information call 734-778-0800.