The FOP community is a family. As a family we share the good times and bad with each other, and pause to give gratitude for the gift of friendship.

We invite you to join us in honoring and remembering our friends and loved ones who have passed on by participating in our first FOP community memorial butterfly release and celebration of life. A celebration of life is a helpful part of the grieving process, whether your loss is recent or long ago. Coming together in this way encourages healing and strengthens our connectedness with each other and with those who live on in our hearts.

The butterfly release program will be shared with the community on National Grief Awareness Day, Monday, August 30th at 7 pm ET during a virtual community gathering hosted on Zoom video conferencing. Sharon Neumann, Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist and sibling of founding member of the IFOPA Nancy Sando, will be hosting the program which will include:

• An introduction to the monarch butterfly journey and why it can be a beautiful way to celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed
• A recording of the pre-filmed butterfly release which will include the individual reading of names and release of butterflies for those who choose to participate by purchasing a butterfly for their loved one
• A closing, providing an opportunity for reflection and connection 

This event is open to all members of the FOP community, even those who may not have purchased a butterfly. **Please note, if you did purchase a butterfly for a loved one you have automatically been registered to participate and should have received a confirmation email with the link to join this event.

IFOPA founding member Jack Sholund was the first to associate butterflies and FOP. He shared this about his painting “The Circle of Life” which is used as the cover of the FOP Guidebook. 

“I had a number of reasons for picking this title for my butterfly painting. The butterfly to me is a symbol of hope and new beginnings. Showing the cycle of the monarch butterfly touches the changes in life which also occur with FOP.”