Fort Lee CDC pays tribute to deceased toddler

By Susan GarlingDecember 6, 2012

Tribute
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Lee Child Development Center staff, parents and children gather around the entrance of the facility after planting pinwheels in honor of 2-year-old Kourtney Flowers, who along with her father, Sgt. Corey Flowers, died as a result of a post housi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Planting pinwheels
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Remembrance
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FORT LEE, Va. (Dec. 6, 2012) -- The staff, children and parents of Fort Lee Child Development Center-Sisisky gathered Friday for a remembrance ceremony in honor of Kourtney Flowers, the 2-year-old victim of a Nov. 19 fire in the Madison Park housing area.

During the tribute, the children of the CDC sang Kourtney's favorite songs and danced to her favorite tunes. One of her teachers shared an emotional moment with everyone as she recalled her time with the little girl who meant so much to so many people.

The ceremony concluded with an outdoor event in which the CDC kids planted pinwheels in Kourtney's honor. There were plenty of smiles and happy thoughts as the children admired the shining and spinning pinwheels.

For parents and staff in attendance, it served as a healing moment that reminded them to celebrate the memory of a little girl rather than dwell on her passing. While hanging a sign in honor of Kourtney, a staff member said it best … "she was unforgettable."