FRANKLIN, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- The town common was filled with light Monday night as Franklin residents came out on the cold and wet night to remember Lexi and Sean Munroe, two children who died last year after becoming trapped in a hope chest.
Songs and poems honored two young lives cut short.
Dozens gathered for a candlelight vigil in Franklin vowing to never forget the 7 and 8-year-old children, who died one year ago Monday after playing in and then becoming trapped in a chest for hours
The vigil "gives you a sense of community and it really shows that people really do care," said Sean Munroe, the children's father.
"Everybody's just like open their arms and nobody's left us behind," Sean and Lexi's mother Gillian Munroe said.
The Munroes say the year has been full of ups and downs, but their community has helped them through it.
And out of the tragedy, they've found new purpose, working to prevent others from re-selling Lane hope chests like the one they owned.
Last year, investigators determined the chest had been part of a 1996 recall of 12 million chests made by lane furniture out of Virginia after reports of several children suffocating inside.
"We still see a lot of people selling them online. Selling them on Craigslist. Still with the same locks," father Sean Munroe said. "A lot of people, my wife here, sisters, they reach out to people and let them know its against the law to sell recall items like that."
At the end of the gathering, two lanterns were lit for Lexi and Sean, a symbol of their constant presence in this town.
"A lot of people say there's never a time that you don't think about them," said sister Cailin Munroe. "And I've realized I do think about them every single day and I miss them a lot."
As a reminder, all Lane or Virginia Maid chests made between 1917 and 1987 need to have their locks replaced. Many of them are bought and sold second hand.
Click here and here to learn more about the recall and how to replace these locks.