Light Up A Life: 20th annual remembrance set for Saturday
November 24, 2010
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The annual Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group’s Light Up A Life has memorialized lost loved ones and recognized those still held close for two decades in what has become one of the community’s most endearing holiday traditions.
And come Saturday, November 27, when the 20th Annual Light Up A Life is held starting at 4:30 p.m., new and familiar names will join the list of thousands and thousands memorialized and honored over the years.
Under a canopy of soon to be twinkling lights - donated at a cost of only $10 each in remembrance or recognition - the community will come together for music, a holiday sing-along, and to witness the Tree Lighting Ceremony, which includes the reading of all names listed.
The ceremony is held each year at the big tree located outside United Water Conservation District headquarters at the corner of Main and 8th streets. In the outside chance of rain, the ceremony will be moved across the street inside Blanchard Community Library, which offers a perfect view of the tree.
Saturday’s program will start with a festive holiday sing-along, and at 5 p.m. - after the lights on the tall tree are lit - volunteers will start reading the lists of names of those being memorialized and recognized. The tree will shine throughout the holiday season, its twinkling lights reflected in many nearby windows, creating a meaningful swirl of colors.
There will be a special donation table to accept remembrances or recognitions - only $10 each - on the spot that will be included on the list of names read at the event. Light Up A Life names will be published in the Santa Paula Times up until Christmas.
The popularity of Light Up A Life is enduring, partly because everyone can briefly share his or her memories of lost loved ones or comment on those living that are honored during the moving - but never maudlin - ceremony.
For more information, or to arrange your donation and twinkling lights, call the Hospice office at 525-1333.
All proceeds will benefit SCVH/HSG, a nonprofit organization offering always free services to those with life-limiting illness and their families throughout the Santa Clara River Valley.
