Family and friends of Ali Borgen together said "happy birthday" and released dozens of bright-colored balloons into the sky Friday -- the day that would have been Ali's 18th birthday.

Then and now: Jessica Cunliffe as a newborn baby with the balloon in 1995 (left) and celebrating her 18th birthday after discovering it was still fully inflated after all those years (right) ...

This was the poignant message from a group of friends who gathered below the Orwell Bridge yesterday to mark what would have been Weronika Stepien’s 18th birthday. Balloons marked with messages ...