One Bright Star

05/25/2026

We are reminded on this Memorial Day to honor and remember all those who have fallen, so that we may enjoy the freedom that they so bravely fought and died for.

05/10/2026

Today, we honor and celebrate all mothers—the love you give, the strength you carry, and the countless ways you nurture those around you.

On this special day, we hold space for the mothers whose hearts carry both love and loss—especially those with a child in heaven. Your motherhood is forever. Your love is eternal. Your child is always remembered.

Today and every day, we see you, we honor you, and we send you love.

05/04/2026

Night of Light for Bereaved Parents.

05/04/2026

It's a beautiful evening to come to the One Bright Star memorial site at Erlandson Park in Mankato. It's the Night of Light for Bereaved Parents starting at 8:30 PM until 9:30 PM.

440 luminaries light the path in remembrance of our children who are forever in our hearts and memories.

05/02/2026

This Sunday, May 3, 2026, join us at One Bright Star's memorial site at Erlandson Park in Mankato from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM for a Night of Light for Bereaved Parents.

The first Sunday in May is recognized as Bereaved Mother's Day. Many have never heard of this day, but if you've lost a child, you are suffering; maybe suffering in silence.

We will be lighting up the walking path at the park with luminaries. At dusk, these lanterns will hold something very special: a name, a memory, a love that has nowhere to go but forward.

The path will also hold something else. It will hold other parents, friends, grandparents, all who have found themselves on the same journey of love and loss. It will hold those who are not walking away from their grief but walking through it, surrounded by light, hope, and honor.

Please join us on a path filled with light so that no parent has to walk alone in the darkness.

04/28/2026

If you've been considering the purchase of a Memorial Plaque or a Memorial Paver for your child, which would be displayed at our memorial site at Erlandson Park in Mankato, please go to our website, (link in comments) and fill out the form.

From there, you can choose which wording and plaque options you would like to order. Cost for a plaque is $350.00 and a paver is $100.00. PayPal and Venmo options are available for you to complete the checkout.

Please purchase by July 31, 2026 to ensure placement at the memorial site in time for our Fall Children’s Memorial Service to be held on Sunday, September 27, 2026.

04/18/2026

Dear friends of One Bright Star!

We’re seeking nominations for One Bright Star in the Community Votes Mankato 2026, and your support would mean a great deal. If our mission of being a resource to families who have lost a child to death has made an impact on you or our community, please take a moment to nominate us and help spread the word.

The nominating period ends on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Please like and share!

Official 2026 Community Voting Awards Platform for Mankato, MN. Where the community votes for their favorites every year.

04/11/2026

Today, April 10, is recognized as National Siblings Day. Celebrated annually on this date, the day honors the bond between brothers and sisters, promotes family connection, and was created by Claudia Evart in 1995 to honor the memory of her late siblings. It is widely celebrated in the U.S. and internationally.

Drop a photo in the comments of a sibling that you are remembering today.

04/05/2026

Easter carries with it a quiet but powerful hope, that even in the deepest grief, love is not lost and life is not without meaning. For parents who have endured the unimaginable loss of a child, it offers a gentle promise that sorrow is not the end of their story, and that love endures beyond what can be seen.