You don’t have to wait until Christmas for a ceremony around a lighted tree this year – assuming you’ve taken yours down from last winter. And this one’s for a great cause (instead of a Claus).
A yearly celebration in memory of lost loved ones will make its first appearance in Concord on Sept. 8, when the 3rd annual Memory Tree lighting ceremony will be held outside of the National Alliance on Mental Health building at 85 N. State St.
The celebration was organized by Debbie Baird and her family after her son, Matthew Hampton, committed suicide in January of 2009. Anyone wishing to honor a loved one that has been lost to any cause, not just suicide, can purchase a light bulb and accompanying ribbon to be placed on the tree. The bulbs are $5 per name, and all proceeds will go to NAMI of New Hampshire.
The ceremony has been held in Manchester in each of the last two years but a quest to spread the word statewide prompted the move to the NAMI building in Concord.
“It started in Manchester at the mental health center, but because we are passionate and our heart really lied with suicide prevention, we wanted to do it statewide,” Baird said. “We want to get our message out there.”
Bulbs that are purchased will be placed on the tree, along with a yellow ribbon indicating the name of the lost loved one. The lighting ceremony will be Sept. 8 at 6 p.m., at which time the names and the names of those who honored them will be read. The tree will then be lighted and will remain lit for one week.
After that week, the name tags will remain at the NAMI building to be picked up by those who would like to do so.
“What’s really nice and moving about this is that everybody loves going around the tree and looking for the names,” Baird said. “It’s a really moving event. It turned out to be a lot better than we ever expected. That first year, we didn’t expect to have maybe five names on the tree.”
Instead they had more than 300, raising more than $3,500 in total. Last year marked a slight increase on both accounts, with more than 65 people attending the lighting ceremony. Those interested in donating without purchasing a bulb or attending the ceremony are also encouraged to do so.
This year’s lighting ceremony is on the first day of Suicide Prevention Week, though Baird noted that the memory tree is designed to honor loved ones lost to any cause.
“It’s not just pinpointed to just those lost to suicide, but lost to any cause, because we want everybody to feel a part of it,” Baird said. “It’s a very healing event. It helps support our family in moving forward, and it just solidifies the fact that we want to help with the stigma of suicide and want to help families and those that are in need.”
To receive an emailed flier with all the information, including how to purchase a bulb, email dbairdsellsnhre@gmail.com or jennklember@gmail.com. All light bulbs and ribbons must be purchased by Sept. 4. Outright donations can be mailed to Debbie Baird, 416 Cross Country Road, Pembroke, N.H. 03275 or Jennifer Klember, 306 Phillip St., Manchester, N.H., 03102. Make checks payable to Debbie Baird or Jennifer Klember. Credit card donations or bulb purchases are also accepted, and can be initiated by contacting Baird or Klember at the above email addresses.
