Memmingen inaugurates new memorial site for stillborn children

A new memorial site for stillborn children, known as 'Sternenkinder', has been inaugurated at the Waldfriedhof cemetery in Memmingen, Germany. The project was a collaborative effort between the Sternenkinder Memmingen e. V. association, the Memmingen Clinic, and the municipal garden and cemetery office, supported by various sponsors and individual donations.

Designed by sculptor Lioba Abrell, the site features a shell limestone stele and colorful glass spheres. Parents can select a sphere engraved with their child's name to be placed in a concave indentation on the stele, symbolizing the permanent place the child holds in the family's life. A horizontal groove in the stone represents the profound impact of the loss. The spheres remain in the stele for one year before families can take them home. The site also includes seating areas and a shell limestone ball track designed to provide a space for grieving and remembrance for the entire family, including siblings.