On International Overdose Awareness Day, hundreds of families gathered at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai, New York, to honor loved ones lost to drug overdoses.

Organized by Beading Hearts, a peer bereavement group supporting those touched by addiction, the eighth annual leaf ceremony offered a space for collective healing. Against the backdrop of a serene Long Island Sound sunset, participants wrote heartfelt messages on leaves and cast them into the water, symbolizing love, loss, and connection to those who have passed.

Linda Nuszen, the group’s founder, emphasized the power of shared grief, saying, “It helps to know that you’re not alone… Our children were more than their addiction.”

Families like Janet Natoli, who lost her son Michael, and Catherine Shaw, mourning her son Ishmael, found solace in the ritual.

For many, the act of releasing messages into the sea was a spiritual step toward healing, a way to honor their loved ones while affirming they are not alone in their sorrow.

The ceremony, marked by emotional tributes and a sense of community, highlighted the ongoing impact of the overdose crisis. Beading Hearts continues to provide support, ensuring families have a voice and a space to remember their “angels.”