Lights to honor loved ones

Christmas seems far away, but the Nash Health Care Volunteer Auxiliary is making plans for the 2009 Lights of Love holiday remembrance celebration.

For $5, a light for the Christmas trees in the hospital lobby may be purchased in memory or honor of a loved one. The trees will be displayed in the hospital lobby throughout the holiday season, and the names will be recorded in a Book of Remembrance, which will be on display. Names from the Book of Remembrance will be read as a part of a special tree-lighting ceremony that will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 24.

All proceeds from the event go to support hospital projects. Profits from the previous Lights of Love Celebrations have been used to purchase two stone benches for the Nash Health Care walking path, items for the pediatric services department at the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center, new lobby furniture for Coastal Plain Hospital and a clothing closet for discharged emergency room patients.

Last year, more than 1,000 lights were sold as a part of the fifth annual Lights of Love.

“The community’s support is vital to the success of this endeavor. It is truly a beautiful project and participation has been wonderful,’ said Jackie Ward of the Nash Health Care Volunteer Auxiliary. “It is not too soon to purchase your light so that your special person can have a light on the tree.”

If you would like to honor or remember someone with a light on the lights of Love tree, please contact the Volunteer office at 443-8118 or Jackie Ward at 443-2684 for a form. The names of those who are represented by a light on the tree will be written in the Book of Remembrance in alphabetical order, so forms should be completed and returned no later than Nov. 20. Lights are $5 each.

“This is a very meaningful project that will fill your heart with the Christmas spirit,” Ward said.