Christmas is a joyful time of year, but for those grieving the loss of a loved one, it can also be a difficult and painful holiday.
For 20 years Sanford Luverne Hospice has hosted a holiday tree-lighting ceremony to honor and remember loved ones — both living and dead.
While hospice sponsors the trees and lighting ceremonies, the program has always been open to the public to participate in. It is not necessary to be affiliated with hospice.
That’s why organizer Helen Saum of Sanford Luverne Hospice approached the city about displaying a Tree of Lights at the new Flag Park at the Main Street and Highway 75 corner.
“This way it will be visible to the entire community,” Saum said. “It has always been intended to be a ‘community’ activity, but there wasn’t a public place to have the tree in the past.”
Hospice will continue to light a large indoor Christmas tree at The Cottage and encourage the public to come to The Cottage afterward for refreshments and fellowship.
The 14-foot tree, a balsam fir, was put up by local horticulturist George Bonnema, who also serves on the design committee for the flag park.
“I ran it by the committee, and everyone was excited about it,” he said about displaying the Tree of Lights at the corner.
“That way it can be part of the community. … We can’t get any better visibility than this. There’s so much better visibility for the community than if it were at the Cottage.”
While the city agreed to share the public space at the flag park, hospice pays for the tree and the expenses associated with organizing, publicizing, decorating and hosting ceremonies, which volunteers help with. In return, hospice receives the proceeds from donations for each name submitted.
“It is intended for anyone in the community thinking of loved ones and wishing to honor or remember them by lighting a light on the tree in their community,” Saum said.
The tree is decorated with lights representing individuals (young or old, well or ill, living or dead), and tree-lighting ceremonies are held in area communities where the names are read.
Luverne’s Connie Connell has submitted names for the hospice tree since 2003, since her mother, the late Louise Vegge, was in the Cottage.
“I will always be grateful for the special staff and volunteers who provided this great support to her and our family,” Connell said.
She joked that her mother-in-law, Barb Connell, received such good care that she “graduated” from hospice and is still living in her own home today.
“During the busy holiday season, we have found the tree-lighting event to be a time to remember our loved ones and all the great memories they created for us,” Connell said. “It's also an opportunity to thank those who provide this loving care.”
The tree-lighting ceremony at the flag park in Luverne will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, and includes a short program of music and reading of the names as the tree is lit.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be inside at The Cottage with refreshments served afterward.
Hospice sponsors trees and ceremonies in Edgerton, Adrian and Hills, and all the trees remain lit throughout the holiday season.
To submit names to be read at the ceremony, mail or drop off a Tree of Lights form to Sanford Luverne Hospice, 211 E. Main St., Luverne, MN 56156.
The deadline is Dec. 1 for names to be included in the Dec. 3 ceremony.
Forms are available at the hospice office on Main Street, the Cottage or www.sanfordluverne.org.
For more information contact Saum at helen.saum@sanfordhealth.org or call 283-1805.