Special Christmas Tree Honours Military
A theme-decorated Christmas tree, donated by Blaise Morrison, general manager of the Halifax Shopping Centre, will stand in the Veterans Room in Province House in honour of Canadian Forces members deployed to Afghanistan and overseas over the holidays.
"We need to remember that not all Canadians are home with their families this Christmas," said Richard Hurlburt, Minister Responsible for Military Relations. "As we gather with our families on Christmas morning, we should recall that there are members of the Canadian Forces -- sailors, soldiers and air force personnel from Nova Scotia -- who are in harm's way and will not be home with their families.
"We also need to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and will never see their families again."
The three-metre-tall tree was part of the Festival of Trees, an annual event held by the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, where theme-decorated Christmas trees are auctioned in support of the foundation.
Mr. Morrison placed the winning bid and donated the tree to the Canadian Forces to be displayed in a place of prominence and honour.
The tree is decorated with festival angel ornaments, designed by Halifax artist Holly Carr and commissioned by Joe Ramia, owner of Gallery 1 Furniture.
Ms. Carr's ornamental design, the festival angel, has a red dress gathered in a yellow sash, which symbolizes the Red Fridays and Support Your Troops campaigns. The angel's peacock feather wings represent the gifts of protection and knowledge and the star, reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem, represents Canada's troops delivering hope to the people of Afghanistan.
Included in the commemoration of this year's tree are 10 Nova Scotian soldiers who died while engaged in military operations in Afghanistan.
"It means so much to those of us in uniform to be recognized by our community and to know that we have support wherever we go," said Navy Capt. William Woodburn, commanding officer of Canadian Forces Base Halifax. "The Festival Angel project is a wonderful demonstration of this support and we are so pleased that Mental Health NS has honoured the Canadian Forces, especially our deployed personnel, with this image of hope for world peace."
House Speaker Alfie MacLeod hopes people will take advantage of the opportunity to recognize the miliary's efforts.
"I would like to see as many Nova Scotians as possible visit Province House during the Christmas season to see the tree and to remember those whose responsibilities take them away from their families at this time of the year," said Mr. MacLeod.
For Broadcast Use:
A theme-decorated Christmas tree, donated by Blaise
Morrison, general manager of the Halifax Shopping Centre, will
stand in the Veterans Room in Province House, in honour of
Canadian Forces members deployed to Afghanistan and overseas over
the holidays.
The tree was decorated by festival angel ornaments,
designed by Halifax artist Holly Carr and commissioned by Joe
Ramia, owner of Gallery 1 Furniture.
Richard Hurlburt, Minister Responsible for Military
Relations, reminds Nova Scotians that not all Canadians are home
with their families this Christmas. Members of the Canadian
Forces are in harm's way and 10 Nova Scotian soldiers have made
the ultimate sacrifice.
The three-metre tall Christmas tree was part of the Festival
of Trees, an annual event held by the Mental Health Foundation of
Nova Scotia, where theme-decorated Christmas trees are auctioned
in support of the foundation.
Navy Captain William Woodburn, base commander of CFB
Halifax, says it means a great deal to those in uniform to be
recognized by their community and to know that they have support
wherever they go.