Valentine’s Day. A day where we send our children to school with small notes of affection to pass out to their classmates. A day we acknowledge those that we love; their presence in our lives and the roles that they play. A day of giving and receiving.
But for Stacy Adams, Valentine’s Day is the day her daughter Arianna was killed. Arianna was struck by a truck in a tragic accident right in the middle of West Main Street in the small community of Hillsborough, New Hampshire. Arianna was 20 years old and she was just embarking on her journey of life. Arianna’s quick and tragic death resonated within the community, as with small communities come with big hearts, and people came together to support and mourn the loss of one of their own.
Arianna left behind two younger brothers, one of them named Airic. While out riding his bike one afternoon Airic happened upon Life Forest. Led by his curiosity and perhaps a higher power, Airic rode his bike down the long gravel drive to find the Life Forest burial ground. He had always known that his mother and family wanted a burial spot for his sister as well as a tree planted, and it seemed that he had found the place that it could happen.
Late in the night he found the Life Forest website, and used the chat feature to reach out to Life Forest, asking, “What is your cheapest tree? My sister died on Valentine’s Day last year and I want to buy her a tree and be able to bury her, I found you while riding my bike with my friend.”
What Airic did not know is that Life Forest’s charitable mission is supporting children. Life Forest does that by never charging to bury a child, as well as providing education and support to children who have lost a caregiver. Not income dependent, just the moral thing to do, Life Forest has tied in with the non-profit “Children’s Burial Assistance, Inc”, and will work with families to ensure that any child has a respectful, deed recorded burial, giving honor to lives cut short, and providing a lasting legacy within Life Forest Conservation Cemetery.
Airic spent his summer giving back to Life Forest by helping to mow the lawn and water the flowers. He showed up with pride, paid respects to his older sister who is buried there, and greeted Life Forest land with love. This we believe is the ultimate in Valentine’s Day sentiment; and the most beautiful way of celebrating this day of giving and receiving.
“At Life Forest, my Arianna finally has a beautiful place to rest in peace.” — Stacy Adams, Arianna’s mother.
