Trees are set up in honor and memory of community members in Washington’s Central Park. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

In the northwest corner of Washington’s Central Park a new Christmas tradition is in its inaugural year.

Main Street Washington organized the Lights of Love Memorial Trees. Each tree was sponsored in honor of someone and each cut tree has lights, a sign, and is topped with a red bow. At Saturday’s Holiday Blitz and Lighting Ceremony Main Street Washington Director Sarah Grunewaldt read the names of those the trees stand for, “In honor of our service men and women who keep us safe, thank you for your service; Gary W. York; in honor of Lois Plank and in memory of Sheryl Lewis. In memory of Dick Ross; Doris Porter; Joe Wallace; all of our loved ones in the Hanson and Wells families; in memory of our Hills Bank customers, employees, and friends who have gone before us and those who are still fighting their own battles; Alma Noble; Russ Zieglowsky; Donald Allender; Clarence and Wally Zieglowsky; Rex and Fran Ray; Dustin Yeoman; Kenwood Sanders; Joseph Evanovich III; Gilbert A. Wood; those United Presbyterian Home residents who passed in 2017; William Ferris and Shirley Ferris-Pollack; Mike Leyden; Donald Patterson; C. Russell Crone; Jean Robertson; Neal R. Lampkins; Jacob, Bertha and Kathy Earnest; Kathy Lloyd; Jarold “Dub” Lister; Richard and Mary Brown; Dan Moeller; Teresa Davis; Larry Beardshear; and Judy Sueppel.” Each tree was sponosored for $100 by family members, friends, or local businesses.