Christmas in the Park Memorial Trees

Christmas in the Park Memorial Trees

by Barbie Layton STAFF WRITER

RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. (WV News) — It’s getting close to that time of year when trees will go up and lights will shine beautifully all around.

The City of Ravenswood, with the help of The GLOW Movement, will be sponsoring Christmas Memorial Trees as part of Christmas in the Park at Washington’s Riverfront Park.

Donetta Webb began the memorial trees in the park in 2016 to honor her father.

“At the time, there were lots of decorations in the park, but there weren’t many on the lower end near the boat docks,” Webb said. “I wanted to think of something that the whole community could participate in and something that would continue to grow.”

Christmas is a trying time for those who have lost loved ones.

“I lost my dad on Christmas Eve and it made it very difficult to even think about celebrating Christmas,” Webb said. “A lot of people have a hard time during the holidays. This gives them a way to remember their loved ones, but it also brings back a way for them to enjoy the holidays.”

The GLOW Movement has been supporting the endeavor and has helped with the tree portion for the past six years.

GLOW Movement founder Tracy Hall lost her son Michael to suicide in September 2016 and she and her family have been decorating a tree in his memory ever since.

“Our family all gathers together to decorate it,” Hall said. “Decorating it allows us to remember him and celebrate the time we had with him. It is hard because we no longer can celebrate with him so this allows us to feel close to him, even if only for a little while.”

The City of Ravenswood invites residents, at no cost, to decorate a tree in honor or memory of a loved one, for a business, or for any cause near to their heart.

The trees will be displayed on the stage area at the park. Participants need to bring a tree, choose a spot in the yellow ribbon caution tape area, wire the tree to the ceiling and decorate as they wish. The city will take care of hooking them up to electricity.

“I had hoped that we could grow this into something for the whole town,” Webb said. “Maybe combine it with a tree lighting ceremony, a festival with Santa, crafts or leigh rides.”

Ravenswood Board of Parks and Recreation Superintendent Katrena Ramsey agrees.

“We really want this to grow this year,” she stated.

Growing is a thought on everyone’s mind, including Hall’s. A formal lighting ceremony is something she would like the city to incorporate.

“Lighting the trees is really something to see,” Hall said. “The lights bring a feeling of hope, something we could all use more of these days.”

For information on the memorial trees, contact Ravenswood City Hall at 304-273-2621.