Amos, it's not something I would do. I'd rather remember birthdays or other, happier, significant events, BUT... what's the liklihood that the anniversary of a loved one's loss will go by un-noticed, unremarked? It's not 'institutional regret'. It's a way to cope.

Anniversaries like this will come, people will remember and they'll think how their lives were changed. They'll feel lonely and wish there was something they could do and someone else who remembered, someone they could talk to.

If it helps, why not? If it doesn't help you, it may still help someone else get through hard days.