Editor's Note: There are little treasures throughout the community and that includes holiday time. Those who, in recent years, frequented the Bridgeport walking trail may have gotten a glipse of this little tree adorned with festive ornaments and ribbons. The inspiring story behind it is originally ran in December of 2014. Those walking along the trail this year will notice that the little tree is not decorated. The story behind that is inspiring, as well. It is Jeanne Unger who once decided to adopt and decorate a pine tree along the trail and shared the mission with her friend Bonnie Burkhammer. This year, however, Unger is still recovering from broken ankles, an injury she received while placing wreaths on gravesites at Shinnston Cemetery in November of 2017. According to her daughter Staci, Unger and her husband decorate family gravesites several times each year. Burkhammer wasn't able to decorate the tree either as she has her hands full with her mother, who became ill and was placed in a nursing facility. Until next year - when perhaps this project will be reinstated - let this blog reprise warm your heart. 

 

Just two days after Christmas, Dec. 27, 2014 featured an irresistible blast of sunshine and warmth. Conditions definitely warranted a walk in the park and I did just that. While rounding the trail between City Park and Virginia Avenue, I was thinking about the unseasonable weather and how it was such a nice holiday surprise.

 

Just then, I got another.

 

Surrounded by a proverbial glow - sort of like the one on "A Charlie Brown Christmas" - was this one little pine tree. The reason it stood out is because it was decorated. Yes, this evergreen along our city trail was covered with ornaments. I thought it was the coolest thing. I took a closer look - and a photo. Another walker commented she had recently done the same thing and we agreed that whoever decorated the tree had accomplished a clever and appreciated gesture.

 

As it turns out, it is a couple of local women who created the outdoor Christmas tree and they did so in memory of loved ones. Jeanne Unger remembers several years ago when city residents could donate their live Christmas trees to the city and she said her aunt and uncle, Jeanne Hurst and Dr. Robert Hurst did just that. She has no idea which tree was theirs - or even if that tree is still around - but she and her friend Bonnie Burkhammer chose one and for three years, they have decorated it. Each year, it has been a work in progress. Starting weeks before Christmas, the ladies walk the trail daily, taking a few ornaments to place upon the tree each time. The ornaments include those made in Sunday School by their children many years ago. Others were handmade by relatives. Some were even hand-painted by the late grandfather of Jeanne's husband Carl. Even after suffering a stroke and losing his speech, he still painted and sang hymns, Jeanne explained. Some of the ornaments - including red and white hand-crocheted birdhouses - were given to Jeanne during her years working as a dental hygienist for Dr. Mark  Vecchio. The tree also showcases ornaments collected by Bonnie during the years she worked as a hairdresser at JC Penney. As most families do, Jeanne and Bonnie said they own more ornaments than their family trees  can hold. So annually, as Jeanne said, they create a "memory tree, for others to enjoy as they walk through our pretty city park and trail system.

 

And I think that's just a beautiful thing to do - and yet another reminder of the inner glow reflected in this very special hometown.