MONTH OF THE GRIEVING CHILD

WHEREAS, there are over 523,000 children living in Virginia in single parent homes, and over 124,000 children be-ing raised by adults other than parents, and over 45,000 children in the commonwealth receiving social security survivor benefits; and

WHEREAS, to be in relationship with others is to experience grief as those relationships end and change; and

WHEREAS, children feel and grieve with the same intensity as adults, but often lack the words and broad under-standing of the events that change the course of their lives, thereby coming to be known as the forgotten mourners; and

WHEREAS, children’s experience of loss and grief is poorly understood by many adults; and

WHEREAS, the experience of loss in childhood, while so pain-ful, can be a cornerstone in developing empathy and apprecia-tion for life; and

WHEREAS, grieving children need the support and under-standing of their neighborhood, school, local and state commu-nities; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia loves and honors her children;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Timothy Kaine, do hereby recognize April 2008 as THE MONTH OF THE GRIEVING CHILD in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.