> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://tools.virtualmemorialguide.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://tools.virtualmemorialguide.org/memorial-elements/opening/arrival.md).
# Arrival
## Purpose
Since people are spending a majority of time at home, participants may need time to emotionally and energetically transition from something other activities at home into the memorial event. A short arrival phase gives participants time to reorient and be better prepared to wholly take part in a memorial.
* The arrival creates a feeling of everyone being in a shared experience. This time gives participants an opportunity to feel:
* You are in the right place.
* You are connected with everyone else
* Everyone is seeing/hearing the same thing
* Mood setting… A moment to transition out of their personal reality and whatever was happening before the event
* Aesthetically relevant (see an image, an altar, hear music, hear chatter, see chat)
## Ideas
* Video stream of an altar or physical memorial space. The altar could have: photos of your loved one, flowers, items significant to the honoree, religious symbols.
* \[add link to altar]
* Show a slide with an image of the deceased
* Put a prompt on screen asking attendees to maintain silence, and to ask questions to use the "chat" function if they have issues
* Play music (this may be a good opportunity to play music with no words)
* \*\*Link to arrival playlist
* Open the room 10 minutes prior to the start time. Arrival should end 3-5 minutes after the scheduled start time, to give people a small buffer to be late.
## Slide Templates
## Facilitation Support
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