Star children in Lannach: New memorial for unforgettable souls

Star children in Lannach: New memorial for unforgettable souls

In Styria, the memory of deceased children who died before, during or shortly after birth is becoming increasingly important. A new memorial for these so -called star children was inaugurated at the parish cemetery in Lannach, in the district of Deutschlandsberg. This facility opens on Sunday and is aimed at affected families and parents who mourn their lost children.

The establishment of this memorial takes place against the background that in society there is growing awareness of grief for star children. Elisabeth Kormann, who gave birth to her daughter Marlene 21 years ago, emphasized how important it is to free the topic from the taboo zone. "At that time there was no term for star children and no way to officially bury them," she explains. Thanks to this new initiative, there is now a room for memory and grief.

a creative monument

The artist Julia-Maria Strohmeier-Vogl designed the concept for the memorial. Her work of art symbolizes the journey of these souls and their return home, with the stars playing a central role in the children's souls. "The work of art is supposed to tell the story of arrival and return journey home," says Strohmeier-Vogl, describing the intention behind its work.

This memorial is another step in social development, which finally brings the topic of the dark side of pregnancy and loss of children to light. Last year, 28 star children were counted in Styria, which underlines the need for such memorials. Project managers Ines Kvar explains that it is essential for affected parents to have a place where they can express their grief.

The memory of star children has become more important in recent years, and now there is the “Worldwide Candle Lighting Day” every year on the second Sunday in December. On this day, candles are lit worldwide to give the bereaved in their grief both memory and hope.

The new memorial in Lannach is therefore an important step to further promote awareness of the grief of star children and to provide affected families with a space in which they can share their emotions and memories. The increasing social acceptance for these topics contributes to relieving the pain experienced and enables an open dialogue about the loss.