***DATE CHANGE*** Montgomery County to Hold Ceremony of Remembrance to Commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday, Sept. 1, and Will Launch ‘Montgomery Goes Purple’

Montgomery County’s ceremony of remembrance and candlelight vigil has been rescheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1, in Downtown Rockville to memorialize lives lost to overdose or substance use.   

Per Montgomery County: The event will commemorate “International Overdose Awareness Day,” a global event aimed at raising awareness of overdoses and reducing the stigma of drug-related deaths.  The event will be held at 7:15 p.m. at Memorial Plaza, located at 101 Monroe St. in Rockville (the terrace between the Montgomery County Executive Office Building and the County Circuit Court).

The original event was planned for Aug. 25.

Family members and friends will remember loved ones and light candles in their honor.  Prior to the ceremony, a resource fair featuring mental health and substance use prevention and treatment information will be held at 5:30 p.m.  The resource fair is open to the public.

A commemorative photo display, highlighting individual lives lost to overdose, will be located outside the Executive Office Building, adjacent to Memorial Plaza.  The display will open later this week and will continue through September.

The event will also launch “Montgomery Goes Purple” for Recovery Month, an international observance to celebrate recovery and encourage individuals with a mental health or substance use disorder to seek recovery supports, and celebrates those in recovery.  Recovery Month, which uses purple to signify support throughout the month of September, increases awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders, attempts to reduce stigma, and promotes messages that emphasize that behavioral health is essential to total health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover.

The event is co-sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney, the Circuit Court’s Adult Drug Court, the City of Rockville, the Montgomery County Collaboration Council, Montgomery Goes Purple, Montgomery County Public Schools Goes Purple, Rockville Goes Purple and Gaithersburg Goes Purple.  The event is supported by Montgomery County’s Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, Department of General Services, the Circuit Court’s Technical Services Office, and the District Court’s Mental Health Court.

Free parking is available in the jury parking lot located at the corner of East Jefferson and Monroe Streets.