Revival Service Remains Private; No Announcement Yet on Plans for a Public Memorial Service for Terry Smith Jr.
There seems to be some confusion regarding whether the memorial service for Terry Smith Jr. on Saturday is public or private. Again, Menif...
http://www.menifee247.com/2013/07/revival-service-remains-private-no.html
Revival Christian Fellowship will be hosting a private memorial service for Terry Smith Jr.. The service is for invited family, friends, and guests of the Smith family. The memorial will be held at Revival Christian Fellowship located in Menifee, California on Saturday, July 20 at noon.
On behalf of the Smith family, we ask that those who have not received an invitation refrain from attending the service. In order to keep the memorial private, there will be no media outlets allowed onto the campus of Revival Christian Fellowship.
We ask that you please respect the wishes of the family as they mourn the loss of their child.
Respectfully,
Revival Christian Fellowship
There has been no announcement of any change in the fact that this service is private and for invited guests only. Revival's office is closed today.
Terry Smith Sr., father of the boy, arrives in Southern California tonight. On Thursday, he repeated his pledge to help coordinate a separate memorial service that would be open to the public. Those plans are tentative. No date or site has been determined.
Menifee 24/7 will keep readers updated on any plans or announcements regarding a public memorial service.
I feel all the people that searched for him should be able to go if they want cause they were the caring people...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad for the reminder that this service (one of a few?) will be private. There are some of you out there that are upset because your children will not get the closure they need, seemingly by being able to say goodbye at a service. This floors me - why can't you have your own special service with your children if Terry's parent/s would prefer to keep this private? Why would you think you are owed anything, especially participation in a ceremony that is very private? And don't say it's because you volunteered and risked heat stroke and were worried - all that's very valid, but that's what you do when one of your neighbors needs help. And when they prefer to mourn in private, we stand back respectfully and allow that. Attending a ceremony to mourn a loss would be ideal, but if it's not possible you can certainly help your child by having a vigil as a neighborhood or as a family, etc. You're the parent and you call the shots. I think it's irresponsible to indulge a child's emotions by saying, "Wahh! We should be able to attend . . .my 8 year old wants to! My 15 year old wants to!" That's when you tell them, as their parent, that "I know you would like to attend to but the family wants it private and it is their decision and we need to respect that. We can have our own service here if you like."
ReplyDeleteGod forbid if I lost my baby - the last thing I'd be worried about is some well-meaning stranger thinking they should be able to come over and be apart of my world while I'm in the throes of grieving. If the parents want this to be private, we as a community need to respect that. We can have our own ceremony for him, maybe the volunteer organizer or those in the other post that were concerned about not getting to attend the ceremony can arrange for a public memorial ceremony for Terry Jr. Maybe for all the volunteers or for the public in general. Besides, I think Terry Sr. mentioned he was going to have his own ceremony and he would welcome all of us.
does that mean that shawnas partner and the partners fam wont be there as well they are not fam and thats what was said private to fam only
DeleteI absolutely agree with the 2 post here. This is a family that needs to grieve in their way. The rest of us need to let this family alone.
DeleteYou obviously didn't read the article or missed this part:The service is for invited family, friends, and guests of the Smith family.
DeletePoor child.I did know him but it is time to heal and let this child be at peace.Enough with the media .I'm reminded every time i take the drive down Scott Road.He is with God now.RIP child
ReplyDelete