Relay For Life: Every candle has a name

Story and Photos by Alice Gerard

Senior Contributing Writer

The walkway at Veterans Park was lined with luminaria on Monday evening, during the Relay For Life ceremony. Each one was a reminder of the struggles of friends and family who have battled cancer. The luminaria honors the survivors, and they remember loved ones who are no longer with us.

One luminaria, especially, stood out. It bore no name on it. Instead, it featured a drawing of a candle, done in marker, and the message, “Every candle has a name.”

That luminaria was not made on Grand Island.

“Relay has a global luminaria exchange,” explained Relay For Life co-chair Lynn Dingey. “Their luminaria come from Relays across the country and, actually, around the world. If a Relay wants to take part, they are able to (participate). That bag came from California. That was their slogan for their Relay. They put it on a bag. They sent that bag to probably 74-100 different Relays.

“I want to say (Relay has) been doing it since before COVID. I want to say 2018 might have been the first year. Back in 2018, I probably got 75-100 bags. As postage goes up, and Relays are more conscious of spending money like that, it doesn’t go out to as many people, and you’re honored when you get one.

“We’ve gotten bags from England. It’s very cool when you get an envelope from England. It’s just cool when they come in the mail.”

The luminaria ceremony was originally scheduled for June 2, but it was delayed because of rainy conditions on that date.

When asked about her impressions of the luminaria ceremony, which was held at 9:15 p.m., just after sunset, Dingey said, “Tonight is always a very moving evening for us. Especially for those of us who take part in Relay and who put Relay together, this is where we take a minute to think about it, reflect on why we do it all. We remember all our friends that we’re doing it for. The names on bags that we know who had cancer. We didn’t know they’d been touched. It’s amazing to see all these bags, but it’s horrible to see all these bags. So, we keep fighting.”

Every candle has a name.