Danville residents honor lost loved ones in annual candle lighting vigil

The Danville chapter of the Compassionate Friends organization hosted its annual Worldwide Candle Lighting vigil on Sunday, to helps parents, siblings, and grandparents deal with the loss of a loved one.

Every year, on the 2nd Sunday of December, chapters around the world light candles to symbolize that a child or loved one's light will always shine.

Jamie Thomas Bright with the organization says it's an important event, especially leading into the holidays. Bright's daughter, Danielle Thomas, was murdered several years ago, and Bright says event like this help her to not feel alone.

"I'm six years out and it has only been in the last couple of years that I've been able to say Merry Christmas, but knowing that I'm not alone, that there's people all over the United States and the world, at 7 p.m. their local time, that they're lighting a candle in memory of all of our children, who were taken too soon, it helps," said Bright.

The organization says the event continues to grow each year, and they offer other support resources throughout the year.