To the Editor:
On the front lawn of the Methodist Church, located at 79 Main Street, is a lighted Christmas tree. Since 2006, we have had an annual Memorial/Honor Tree. Donors purchase a bulb in memory and/or in honor of someone they know. Many people from Bethel as well as from other towns in Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, New York, Rhode Island, and Indiana participated in this Church fundraiser. As you start to read the names listed in this letter, please take a moment and reflect on your memories of these individuals who have passed on and also to recognize the individuals and groups who have been honored with a bulb in their names.

The following is the list of those who have bulbs glowing in their memory: Ruth Snogren, Eleanor Brooks, Betty Hess, Charlie Adams, Marie Thompson, Ruby Thompson, Merle Thompson, Merlie Butters, Earl & Elsie Davis, Stan Davis, Edwin Brown, Eva & Carl Swan, Hugh “Cubby” Swan, Beth Awalt, John Brown, Jim Cullop, Cynthia Riley, Margaret Ring, Carol Jordan, Marion Beaton, Barry Crommett, Bill Williams, Greg Tyler, Gailey Wheeler, Peter DellaValle, Ernest Angevine, Alberta Angevine, Richard Angevine, Elizabeth (Betty) Blake, Richard Douglass, Grace Douglass, Brian Douglass, Gerry Emery, Dorothy Emery, Hillary Sanz, Archie L. Young Jr. and Jane B. Young, Rocco Marzilli, Sr. Rocco Marzilli Jr., Joan Howe, Bill & Ethel Ward, Roy & Betty Lurvey, Tom Caton, Walter Clark, Blaine Mills, Edward & Sylvia Fontaine, Ray & Joan Cole, Stan & Althea Brown, Francis Chaput, Robert Cook, Nancy Cook, Pastor Connie MacGinnis, Dorothy Perkner, Ethel Synder, Albert & Margaret Ingram, Donald & Arlene Brown, Herbert & Evelyn Nickerson, Carl & Ruth Brown, Sherman & Mabel Greenleaf, Sylvia D. Clanton, Mr. & Mrs. Norman B. Clanton, Lt. Col. and Mrs. Sidney A. Dyke, Cindy Brooks DiBatista, Florine & Bud Bowden. Frank & Betty Lou Gingras. Muriel & Seymour Butters, Merrie Lee Butters Ojeda, Leah Deegan, Robert & Edna York, Raymond York, Bertha & Clayton Mills, Herbert & Naomi Bean, Kay & Rodney Eames, Annie & Alanson Bowden Sr., Angelo & Annie Coletta, Assunta & Luigi Canestrari, Bonnie Bowden, Terri Nicolella, Richard Belisle, Edmund Butler, Maude & Herbert Bean, Jennie & Harvey Jones, Ethel & Ernest Bisbee, Alice Ballard, Wally & June Bowden, Alanson & Anabelle Bowden, Franklin Bean, Jacklyn Gammon, Gary Olson, Margaret Barton, Adelaide & Wendell Gibbs, Jamie Blake, Mary Lou Cole, David Nagle, Barbara White, Julie Fauvel, Auntie Val Crew, Gary Olson, Ruth Wilkinson, Norman Ford, Gayland Dooen, Norma Ford Lawson, Harold Conner, Avis Dooen, John & Lilllian Delaney, Pastor Marilyn Rodin, Matthew Poole, John Jr. & Carolyn Poole, Blake & Rachal MacKay, Norma Buck, Evelyn Kimball, Connie Carlton, Bonnie Bowden, Mary Lou Cole, Laurence & Lillian Kimball, Astrid & Irving Rogers, Maud Grindle, Pat & Gladys Grenier, Arthur Kimball, Hope Tibbetts, Brenda Wodka, Mauriel Faudi, Eugene Currier, Harold & Monique Rolfe, and Rev. Jane C. Rich.

Lights are also glowing in honor of Musa Brown, Nancy Brown, Martha Berry, Louisa Abarno, Pastor Robin & Marc Chaput, Dorraine Snogren, Darlene Beck, Amy Davis, Nikki Viden, Linda Howe, Sister Bernadette Gautreau, Donald & Janet Coverdale, Mary Hurd, Pastor Ed Gammon, Michael & Judith Coletta, Bonnie Pooley, Moriah McDonagh, Jim Klesitz, James Caplinger, Wally Ritz, Jim St. Germain, Vernon Davis, Bob Howe, John & Jeanette Poole, Taylor Swift, Community Annex Instructors: Wendy Youmans, Malinda Gilbert Gagnon, Kristen Otten, Harriet Langley, and Lauren Wallen, Mollyockett Chorus, Re-Pant Group, Soup’s On! Group, Bethel Rotary Club, Bethel Freedom Group, Local Food Connection Group, Bethel Area Food Pantry and District Exchange.

Lights are shining brightly on Main Street in memory of and/or honoring those listed above in this letter. We hope the memories of the folks who have passed on bring you peace and joy. On behalf of all the Church members of the Bethel United Methodist Church, we would like to thank all the donors who participated in this annual church fundraiser. Your support is a blessing to many people in our community.

Linda Howe, Trustee
Bethel United Methodist Church