The Compassionate Friends of Ottawa County gathered at its special memorial area in the southwest corner of Lakeview Park in Port Clinton on Sunday before taking the chapter’s “Walk to Remember,” a symbolic remembrance of children, brothers and sisters, grandchildren and other family members who have died.

Dozens of members of The Compassionate Friends of Ottawa County took a somber, symbolic “Walk to Remember” at Lakeview Park in Port Clinton recently, showing the love they carry for children who have died.

The world’s largest self-help bereavement organization, The Compassionate Friends offers friendship, understanding and hope to families that have experienced the death of a child through a network of almost 700 chapters in the United States.

The local walk was held in conjunction with The Compassionate Friends National Conference “Walk to Remember” held in Philadelphia, Pa., where 1,500 were expected to walk. Following the Port Clinton walk, participants joined together for a potluck meal, silent auction and memorial service.

“Whether someone walks one mile or a couple of hundred feet is not important,” said chapter leader Roseann Hickman. “What is important is that we have taken this time to join with family and friends who care that an important person, a child, is missing from our lives. We are joining with bereaved families and friends walking in unity in states across our country to remember all children who died too soon, no matter their age or cause of death.”

For more information about the organization and its chapters visit compassionatefriends.org.