PETALING JAYA: The National Mourning Day wasn't just felt by the families and friends of the passengers and crew of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, but also those who lost their loved ones in the MH370 tragedy.
Jacquita Gonzales, wife of the missing MH370's in-flight supervisor Patrick Francis Gomes said she felt the need to hold the tribute to pray for the victims to rest in peace and for the families to have peace.
About 70 children and their parents joined the tribute at St. Francis Xavier church at Jalan Gasing here today, to pay their last respects to the 20 Malaysian victims whose remains were brought home.
They lit candles and placed white flowers at the altar where pictures of the victims were mounted onto a board.
"I just felt the need to have a memorial for the victims and pray for them and their families. I could connect with them and could imagine how the families feel.
"Watching the news on July 17 was like deja vu. I sat in front of the television for days and months watching the news MH370 disappeared, hoping for good news.
"This tragedy should not have happened. They did not deserve to be robbed of their loved ones.
"We placed white flowers at the altar as a symbol or innocence and purity and lit candles to guide the departed through the darkness to the eternal light that was waiting for them.
"They will always be remembered and will always be in our heart," she told the NST Online when met at the church.
Gonzales added that at least the families had a closure that they could finally say goodbye to their loved ones.
She however called for the authorities to bring those who brought down the plane to justice, which would give a total closure to the families.
Gonzales also showed the children the live telecast of the National Mourning Day when the remains of the 20 victims landed at KLIA at 9.54am and explained to them what was happening on the ground.
At 10.58am, all those present observed a minute of silence.
The children prayed for the passengers and crew of flight MH17 to rest in peace. They also prayed for the safe return of Gomes and the return of flight MH370.
"I'm very sad. I pray for the children in MH17 to play in heaven and I hope uncle Patrick will return soon," Joshua Benedict, 5, said.
"I pray for all the victims to go to heaven," Shatititra Partiban, 6, said.