FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. – On Sunday, December 4, 2022 Craig-Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens hosted the 19th Annual Holiday Memorial Tree and Candlelight Service of Remembrance.
The tree this year is adorned with over 4,000 ornaments in memory of those who have passed away and will remain illuminated until January 15, 2023.
The Memorial Tree Ceremony began in 2003 after several years a Holiday Tree appearing in the Garden of Memory Chapel according to General Manager Allen Whetsell.
“(I) met the family who had each year been placing the tree as a remembrance of their son who had passed away,” he said. “The Russo/Walsh Family willingly agreed that there was a need for the community to be able to come together in a time of memory to help begin the holiday season.”
Since 2003 the service has been held on the first Sunday in December. Throughout the years Craig-Flagler Palms has invited area clergy to offer words of comfort, and for the past 10 years the Flagler Palm Coast High School Chorus has provided music of the season during the service for 250-300 guests.
“Each year families can come remove their ornament if wanted or we will package and save them and place them on the tree next year. We have ornaments from the original ceremony 19 years ago,” said Whetsell.
It was also announced at this ceremony that after 22 years of service to the Flagler Community and his 19th Candlelight service that Whetsell will be semi-retiring from the Craig-Flagler Palms Staff.
“I have looked on this memorial tree as a blessing for myself and the families I have served in the community. But know that this tree is open to all who have had a loss, just not those served by Craig-Flagler Palms,” he said.
“It is a time of remembrance and yes that can be difficult. But I look at it as a time of healing and reflection. It is that a life was lived, loved and cherished. And in this small token of time, it can be a new chapter in theirs lives. Not because they passed away, but because they lived. The tree takes a different form each year. Yes there are some new ornaments from those who passed recently, but it real blessing to me is remembering those families I have served in the past years of my career in Flagler County. There is an ornament on there for my parents who died in 1972 and my sister who passed in 1999. It is a time for me to remember personally and to laugh as i remember the good times,” shared Whetsell.
“I could not do this alone. I have great staff that each and every year take this program to new and exciting levels as we begin our holidays helping those we help all year long. Our gift to the community.”
