Friday, September 12, would have been Benjamin Wheeler’s eighth birthday. Friends are joining members of the Wheeler family to remember Ben and the other children and educators lost at Sandy Hook School with light.

Ben loved lighthouses. To share the light of Ben’s spirit, all are invited to place a candle safely in a window, doorway, or porch on Friday evening. Ideas include using a real candle, an LED candle, an electric window candle, a luminary, a lighthouse lamp, etc.

“Let the light shine in the darkness as you think of Ben, the Wheeler family, and all the families who have lost a loved one due to violence. The tiny lights will join together to glow brightly across the world,” said Sue Vogelman, a friend of the Wheelers and the creator of .a Facebook event page called Light a Candle for Ben Wheeler’s Birthday on Sep 12th

Those who would like to share photos of their light for Ben are invited to post one in the comment section of the Facebook event page, and include a note on where the light was shared including town, state, and country (if needed).

“Please share this event on your Facebook timeline and tell your friends, relatives, and neighbors to join in this simple act of love for a child,” said Ms Vogelman.

Ben Wheeler is the namesake behind Ben’s Lighthouse, an organization founded as a way to remember Ben while also honoring the light of all of those lost on 12/14. The group’s mission is to foster the potential of all children to promote the long term health of the children and families in the region while nurturing an environment of non-violence and caring.

For more information on Ben Wheeler and how his love of lighthouses is helping others, visit BensLighthouse.org.Ben's Lighthouse Facebook page see the