The Memory Tree

VERNON, Ala. (WCBI) – For many of us at this time of year, the Christmas tree is a family tradition and every ornament is a memory.

But for families facing loss during the holiday season, the memories are bittersweet.

“It’s more than just a Christmas tree. It’s memorial for all of these families.”

“When you look at that tree, what goes through your mind? The heartache, the pain for the families because of what they went through and what they’re still going through and how everybody needs to be lifting them up in their prayers,” says Vernon Chamber of Commerce President, Kathie Rutledge.

“We just decided to do the memory tree in honor of some of the teens that had got killed in the last few years and just try to show that we still care about these families and they need our prayers during the holidays,” says That Little Store Somewhere employee, Tami Sudduth.

“There’s lots of families that have lost during Christmas time. It makes it tough, a tough season to get through,” says Rutledge.

“When they sit down to have their Christmas, those children are not there and it’s got to be hard. Some of them have been a few years and some of them are fresh, this year, and some of them within a just few months,” says Sudduth.

Sudduth also says this about the memory tree.

“This is just a few of them. I’m sure there’s more and it just seems like we’ve been hit pretty hard and we just want to try to give back to the families a little bit and let them know that we are thinking about them.”

“Tears will come to your eyes because you look at these kids, these young kids and it just touches you. It just makes you realize how precious life really is,” says Chamber of Commerce employee, Carrie Stanford.

“We have an ornament for each family that we will give them after the trees are undecorated,” says Sudduth.

“People will remember this one for a long time,” says Stanford.