One more light to leave on for his son. That was the vision of Rick Harrington in creating a memorial for his late son, Ricky, at the Edgartown Lighthouse. The Children’s Memorial at the Edgartown Lighthouse was dedicated in 2001, with cobblestones under the lighthouse engraved with the names of children of all ages who had died. The following year, the first Ceremony of Remembrance was held at the memorial, an opportunity for families and friends to gather.

The memorial has now grown to honor 651 children. Twenty-six new stones were added in the last year alone. And this year, the 13th annual Ceremony of Remembrance will be held Saturday, Sept. 20. The event begins at 1 p.m. Families are invited to enjoy music and fellowship, and refreshments will be provided by the Harbor View Hotel. The rain date is Sept. 27; if the ceremony is postponed, there will be a recorded message on the museum phone by 5 p.m. on Sept. 19.

Martha’s Vineyard Museum is the steward of the Edgartown lighthouse and the caretaker of the children’s memorial.

Those interested in purchasing stones can contact Betsey Mayhew at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum at bmayhew@mvmuseum.org or 508-627-4441 extension 112.