2023 Walk to Remember — Opening Speech

Good morning. My name is Kathleen McAleer and I’m a social worker and grief counselor. I’ve had the honor of being part of the Mass Center for Unexpected Infant and Child Death for many years, providing direct support to families after the death of an infant or child, and more recently as a member of the Advisory Board.

Thank you for allowing me to speak with you for a few moments before we walk down the path to the lake.

Our collective grief has been triggered quite a lot over the last few years between COVID, war, and political unrest. With the events in Israel and Gaza this past week, we are once again shuddering at the tragedy of so much pain, loss, and suffering. We know that personal grief is amplified in the face of such suffering. So, it’s fitting that we are all here together today.

Let’s pause for a moment of quiet to offer our compassion, our love, and our companionship to each other and to all touched by these events.

There are no words powerful enough, no explanation reasonable enough, and no act great enough to take away the pain of losing an infant or child. Dr. Alan Wolfelt, a grief educator and counselor talks about the importance of “companioning” those who are grieving. Companioning is not about taking away the complex emotions of your grief, pushing you to get better, or setting an end point to your grieving.

Companioning is about “being with.” So today, let’s companion and be with each other to walk, to remember and share, to laugh, to cry, and to take in these beautiful surroundings. Please take care of yourself and each other and know you have people all around who are here to companion and “be with” you.

Thank you.

-Kathleen McAleer