Survivors of suicide form a circle and hold up candles during the fifth annual Evening of Remembrance at Archibald Park in Madeira Beach July 9.
Photo by MARY BURRELL
Bonnie McClelland, founder of the Pinellas County chapter of the Suncoast Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program, blows bubbles on the beach during the Evening of Remembrance.
MADEIRA BEACH – With a nearly full moon behind them and the sun setting on the horizon, a group of survivors of suicide – those who lost loved ones to suicide – gathered on the beach for a candlelight Evening of Remembrance July 9.
As beachgoers at Archibald Park respectfully watched, Bonnie McClelland of Seminole, co-founder of the Suncoast Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program, guided the 35 survivors through an inspirational and emotional ceremony that included lighting each other’s candles and honoring the memories of the teens who died and who clearly remain a big part of the lives of family members and friends.
As the participants gathered, they signed a banner that included notes to their loved ones, and they talked, sharing their pain with others who understood their loss.
McClelland founded the Pinellas County chapter after her son, Timothy, committed suicide at the age of 17. His farewell note, “Learn from this and help each other” has become the inspiration of the prevention program, which includes regular meetings at Seminole Community Library.
In Hillsborough County, Carol Yaros of Tampa co-founded the Suncoast chapter. Her son, Nicholas, was 15 when he died.
Timothy and Nicholas’ photos was displayed, as well as others’, and the huge quilt that McClelland made in 2002, with 2332 yellow ribbons to represent the lives lost to suicide in Florida in that year. Since then, the different states’ chapters have done the same thing, and others in the state have taken their turn in creating a quilt.
“I hope you can somehow find peace,” McClelland said to those who gathered, as they cried and hugged each other for support.
This was the fifth annual Evening of Remembrance. There is a Yellow Ribbon event in October. The Yellow Ribbon program is focused on the prevention of teen suicide, the No. 3 cause of death for teens and the ninth leading cause of death for all ages in Florida.
To find out about the Yellow Ribbon program, call Bonnie McClelland at 394-8222 or visit www.suncoastyr.org.
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