For many centuries, white doves have symbolized innocence, purity, peace, love and hope all over the world. The release of a flock of doves have become a popular choice at funeral services in the western section of this country as well as in many other nations. We here at On The Wings of Love have performed a number of bird releases for funerals and memorial services, both here in Maine and Massachusetts and the responses have been enthusiastic and gratifying.

The general format used is the presentation of a pure white homing dove to designated family members of the funeral party for release. A short reading pertaining to the symbolism of the bird as the soul of the dearly loved departed and it's freedom from the trials of this earth. As the birds are set free to soar joyously above those that have come to honor the life they depict, a flock of birds are released to symbolize those souls in the life of the newly departed that went before and have come to greet and guide it into a new plane of existence. All join together and disappear into the sky.

We have been told that this symbolic gesture helped to alleviate some of the pain of losing loved ones. Our hope is that it will instill the mourners with the idea that, although their loved one may no longer be with them in the form they had come to know and love, their essence will ever be present in their lives.

If our clients have differing ideas as to how they would like a bird release to be performed, we are open to any reasonable suggestions.