Raising our Light: An Evening of Remembrance in Montecito held on anniversary of mudslide

An emotional ceremony took place in Montecito on the anniversary of the mudslide that killed 23 people and destroyed homes and flooded the 101 freeway on January 9, 2018.

Planning committee members named it “Raising our Light: An Evening of Remembrance in Montecito.”

It began with a short program on a stage in Lower Manning Park that included music and poetry.

Lauren Cantin, who lost her father and brother in the slide, sang Amazing Grace.

Carie Baker-Corey read a poem written by her 12-year-old daughter Sawyer about the Thomas Fire.

Sawyer, a twin, and her older sister Morgan, 25, were also killed.

People in the audience wiped away tears as they listened. They said they were amazed at her courage to speak.

Children from a number of Montecito schools sang together in a community choir.

After reading the names of the lives lost, people carried electric candles down San Ysidro Road, a road that was covered by mud and debris last year.

Organizers closed the road to allow the crowd to walk to All Saints By The Sea Episcopal Church.

The church had a towering Klieg light shining to guide the way.

The church opened its doors on the night of the natural disaster to help people injured and looking for their loved ones.