ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - Dozens gathered at the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities for the annual Butterfly Memorial to celebrate the lives of those they've lost and release butterflies in their honor.
The Allen County Board of DD's Butterfly Garden was originally meant as a way to honor those they've served who have since passed away. Now in its third year, it's grown to 155 butterflies. Of the 30 added this year, only 12 were served by the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
"We never would have thought that it would grow so much that I'm frequently stopped at the playground or at the park where people want to buy one. Some have a connection to developmental disabilities, but I met a family this week who don't have a traditional place to go and remember a loved one because she didn't die here. So there's a few stories like that," said Theresa Schnipke, Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
For many families, honoring their loved one in a garden full of flowers and having their name etched on a butterfly is a great reflection of the personality and life of the one they lost.
"It's amazing; we always called him our butterfly. When he was born, he had a collodion membrane, so he had to come out of it like a cocoon and peel that skin and stuff. It's just beautiful. He was such a light to the world that there's no better way," said Angela Dalton, who lost her son, Emmett Duncan.
During the ceremony, stories are shared about the latest additions to the garden. They focus on happy memories, funny moments, and the things that they love about them. Afterward, each family who lost someone is given a live butterfly to release. The afternoon is bittersweet, but ultimately a celebration of life.
"Everybody comes together with grief in different ways, and there's different ways of grief, and this is just one of those ways it feels like you can express it. Because it feels like to society, there's a limit on that grief, and to us, who lose a three-year-old or anybody here who loses someone, it's forever. You grieve forever. So to celebrate him in any way and to just bring his memory to life again is just amazing," added Dalton.
The garden can be found between Ottawa Metro Park and the Allen County Board of DD's All Abilities Playground.
