At the Relay for Life, it's a silent midnight ceremony that says it all

As the midnight hour struck Friday, it was impossible to find a dry eye at Colony High School. When not a word was spoken, the loudest message was sent.

During the annual Relay for Life, a 24-hour walk event for the American Cancer Society, the midnight luminary ceremony sets the mood and tone -- and pays tribute to both cancer victims and survivors.

People purchase bags for both victims and survivors and decorate them as they want. Some simply have a name inscribed, while others have pictures and elaborate artwork.

Then, at midnight, the bags are placed on the track and a candle is lit in each one, providing a somber mood and a time of remembrance.

A bagpiper led a procession around the track, providing the only noise in an emotional lap for all in attendance.

"I lost my mother, my father and my uncle to cancer. I'm out here because each one of those bags is somebody's mother, somebody's father and somebody's uncle," said Deb Reeser. Reeser said she comes out for the midnight ceremony each year, but doesn't participate on a team that walks for 24 hours. "When you look at all those names, you realize how many families have to deal with this."

Luminaries were kept lit until the morning, providing the only light needed for walkers in the early morning hours.

The event started at 6 p.m. Friday with the Survivors' Lap, in which cancer survivors carried a banner around the track, kicking off the event. The faces of the survivors were young and old -- from children to the elderly -- another example of how indiscriminate cancer really is.

Teams then began walking laps, which continued until 6 p.m Saturday. Outside of the track area, motorhomes and tents popped up, making the event one big charitable camping trip for many.

Walkers were young and old, and some came from as far away as Virginia for the event.