A Story from the 10th Annual Memorial Arch

During this year’s 10th Annual Faith & Grief Memorial Arch, Chaplain and Board Member Stacey Merlin met two sisters visiting the Arch with their mother. They asked about the ribbons and soon shared about their friend Nora, a classmate who died this year from brain cancer. Nora’s parents created Nora’s Sparkle of Love Project in her memory, a tribute to her joyful spirit.

At the Arch, the girls each wrote a ribbon to remember Nora, and their mother expressed how meaningful and beautiful this experience was for them.

For Stacey—who serves as a chaplain at Parkland—this moment reflected the universal reality of loss and the tenderness with which even children carry grief. Their willingness to share, remember, and speak honestly about Nora was a beautiful reflection of thoughtful parenting and the supportive community holding them.

Encounters like these remind us why the Memorial Arch matters: it creates space for shared remembrance and community healing. Stacey shared, “Faith & Grief is very important to me, because of the work I do but also the people who are a part of it are just amazing people… I am just amazed at how they walk through [grief]. It gives you hope because they have made it through, and they are holding their hand out for someone else.”

This story is a beautiful reminder that Faith & Grief and the Memorial Arch offer a place for people to come together, support one another, and navigate the journey of grief. Thank you to our volunteers who make this possible—your compassion and dedication matters. We still have some volunteer spots available for the 10th Annual Memorial Arch, learn more and sign up here.