Keeping memories alive
Myers hosts 25th annual Memorial Tree Lighting Service
Well over 70 people were in attendance for the 25th annual Myers Memorial Tree Lighting Service on Thursday night in front of Myers Funeral Service and Crematory on North E Street in Porterville.
Waves of people began to show up on the lawn of Myers around 6:45 p.m., just in time to catch the beginning of ceremony which started at 7 p.m. Hot chocolate and sugar cookies were available for the pubic to grab while they waited for the ceremony to start, and several audience members chose to browse the four Christmas trees that were decorating the lawn. Upon each of the trees were thousands of ornaments honoring loved ones from the community that have passed on. The ornaments glistened in the Christmas lights when they caught them just right, and reflections of gold littered the
sheet around the base of each tree. A stage set up at the head of the crowd had four chairs lined up, one for each speaker of the night, and lined in front of the stage were four long rows of chairs for the public to sit in. By the time all of the attendees had arrived, there was only standing room left at the ceremony.
As the clock struck 7 p.m., Bo Webb opened the ceremony with a short welcome. He stated that Ernesto Alonzo, who was supposed to give the welcome, was unable to make it so he would be standing in his place. He then introduced Patti Torrey, who approached the microphone strapped with her acoustic guitar. She invited the crowd to sing-along with her as she began the ceremony’s congregational song, Silent Night. Torrey finished the song to a round of applause, and Pastor Mark Pitcher of the Porterville Church of the Nazarene took the floor to provide a prayer and scripture reading for the ceremony.
Pitcher opened with a story about grieving over loved ones during the holidays, and how his life has been touched by the passing of loved ones near Thanksgiving and Christmas. He then asked everyone to bow their heads as he prayed. The crowd fell silent and Pitcher blessed the ceremony, those in attendance and the ones who have passed over the course of this year. He then passed the microphone back to Torrey, who sang two of her favorite carols as the audience drummed and sang-a-long with her.
Pitcher took the floor again after Torrey finished the two carols to give the memorial message for the service. He spoke to the crowd about how he finds consolation during the holidays.
“Begin with those who are closest to you,” said Pitcher. “Sometimes, just sometimes, when we go through the depths of sorrow and sadness and separation, we have a tendency to cut off even those who are closest to us. Don’t do it. Because of the love they have for you and you have for them, allow that love to flow towards those who are closest, but don’t let it stop there. Instead, allow that love that you have for your closest family members begin to impact those who entered into your sphere of influence.”
He wrapped up his message with a poem titled “My First Christmas in Heaven.”
The closing song titled Where You Are by Craig Aven was played on a projector screen, and many of the audience members were wiping their eyes with tissues. The ceremony came to an emotional head while the song played, and allowed the audience to listen and remember their loved ones. As the song faded out, Webb approached the microphone to give the closing prayer. Once the prayer was said, the audience counted to three and all four of the trees came to life with light, making the ornaments shine even brighter. Webb announced the closing of the ceremony, and thanked everyone for attending, before those in attendance gathered around the trees searching for the ornament bearing the name of their loved one who passed.
Ornaments will now be available for pick-up at Myers Funeral Service and Crematory located at 248 North E Street during the following days and times: Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.