Organizers of the Newtown Suicide Prevention Initiative are readying a young Redpointe Maple to be planted beside the Newtown Community Center next month and hoping to stir fond memories of those the community has lost to suicide.

A brief, quiet ceremony is being planned by co-founders Maureen Crick Owen and Anna Wiedemann on September 5. The ceremony will begin at 1 pm.

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Crick Owen, a local selectman, also said September 5 kicks off Suicide Prevention Week, “Which is why we chose this date to hold our event.

“During this week and month you can find seminars, conferences, and many activities to inform and engage health professionals and the general public about suicide prevention and warning signs of suicide,” she added. “While we and the town of Newtown have done virtual events for the public on suicide prevention, Anna and I chose to do something a little different for Suicide Prevention Week and Month.”

Crick Owen said Wiedemann came up with an idea to plant a tree in honor of loved ones who died by suicide.

“We chose the Redpointe Maple, a medium-sized shade tree with a neat, clean, teardrop-shaped outline,” Crick Owen said.

She said event organizers decided on the Redpointe Maple for three specific reasons that aligned perfectly with messages they hoped would resonate among those who suffered the loss of a loved one to suicide:

It is fast-growing. “We want information about suicide prevention to be ‘fast-growing’ so suicide rates decrease.”

It stands tall and proud. “Our loved ones who died by suicide are still in our hearts and minds, and we stand tall and proud when we talk about them to family and friends.”

It glows like a beacon in the fall. “The leaves turn scorching red, and we would like everyone to remember, not just in the fall but all times throughout the year how important suicide prevention is.”

Photos Sought For Ceremony

Wiedemann said since Suicide Prevention Month honors those who have lost loved ones to suicide, “We thought, what better way than to plant a tree?

“This beautiful Redpointe Maple tree will pay tribute to loved ones,” she said. “How beautiful this tree will look when the leaves turn red.”

For the event, those leaves will frame images of those lost.

“We’d like to have pictures of those who passed,” Wiedemann said. “They’ll be laminated and placed on the tree. After a brief ceremony, we’d like those who gave us pictures to take them home with them. Let’s join together to honor those memories.”

Anyone wishing to contribute a photo can e-mail it to maureencrickowen@gmail.com in advance of the event so it can be prepared for placement on the tree, or bring a picture to the event and it will be displayed among the others.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal will provide opening remarks before everyone attending will have the opportunity to share remembrances of their lost loved one.

Crick Owen said that during the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention remembrance service she attends every December, a significant part of the agenda is to have time for “open mic.”

“Attendees could tell a story about their loved one, sing a song, read a poem, or whatever they felt comfortable to do,” she said. “We will do this at the event on September 5. I participated in the open mic [during] the remembrance service every year. It was my way of honoring my nephew, Matthew Crick.”

Crick Owen said that each year, she would tell a different story.

“I think it is very important to tell memories of our loved ones to help the survivors in our healing journey,” she added.

Karina Brasil created a logo specifically for the 2021 event. Crick Owen will offer closing remarks, and suicide prevention literature will be available for attendees.

This year’s ceremony follows two “Talk Saves Lives” sessions promoted by initiative organizers last September, and a March 2021 webcast hosted by The Newtown Bee focusing on the escalating incidence of suicides and attempts by youths.

Anyone who may be considering taking their own life, or anyone suspecting a friend or loved one may be in danger of committing suicide is strongly encouraged to call 911; for added support, call the Trevor Lifeline at 866-488-7386 — this service is provided by The Trevor Project (thetrevorproject.org).

“And if you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Or contact the crisis text line by texting TALK to 741741,” Crick Owen implored. “During these unprecedented times — and, in fact, any time — it is okay to not be okay. There is help and we want to inform you of those resources.”

Editor John Voket can be reached at editor@thebee.com.