As dusk fell over Des Moines’ Union Park on Friday, a line of masked community members awaited their turns to offer hugs, condolences and flowers to some half dozen members of a bereaved family who had joined them.
Like similar rituals played out in places of worship, crematoriums or burial grounds, such a sharing of grief may help temper grief's impact. But unlike at most memorial services, these attendees were not known to the family. They were strangers who had come together to mourn a little girl they'd never met. 
We all felt we knew Breasia Terrell, the radiant 10-year old from Davenport who disappeared nine months ago, and whose missing remains turned up March 22 in a pond. We knew she was independent and outgoing, funny and strong. Maybe we'd heard her mother, Aisha Lankford, describe in an interview how Breasia loved celebrating birthdays at FunCity in Burlington, or dancing and singing along to "Moana" tunes. We'd seen Breasia's luminous eyes and effusive smile beam out from “Missing” posters.

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