Ruby Taylor places a pair of doves in remembrance of her husband and daughter on the 10th annual Dove Tree at the Nolan Center last weekend.
The annual Dove Tree ceremony, a remembrance of Wrangellites and family who have passed away during the past 12 months, marked a decade on Sunday, Nov. 18 at the Nolan Center.
A total of 46 paper doves, each with the name of a loved one emblazoned upon it in gold ink, were placed on the tree by relatives, friends, and members of the Wrangell Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The Wrangell Hospice sponsors the annual event.
Alice Rooney, who takes part in the ceremony as an accompanist on piano, said remembering is way of coming together as a town.
“This is a small and close-knit community,” Rooney said. “We all share in our joys and sorrows. That’s why it’s important as a town to recognize those who have gone on in the past year. As individuals, we know that the holidays are a rough time, especially when others are celebrating and we might be grieving. So, having a gathering like this gives a time to bring a synthesis of both joy and celebration.”
A number of clergy from the borough took part as well, with Harbor Light Assembly of God pastor Kem Haggard offering the opening prayer and Father Thomas Weise of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church providing a homily on death and the life to come.
“I enjoy funerals,” Weise told the audience. “Because it means someone has gone home… and is with God. Imagine being all places at once, like God, instead of just here in Wrangell.”
Ruby Taylor, a longtime Wrangell resident, was in attendance and placed a pair of doves for members of her family who passed away during the last year.
“They were for my husband and my first born daughter, Allen Taylor and Fran Bolstad,” Taylor said. “It was important to be here to remember both of them. They both passed away within six weeks of each other, so it was important for me to be here today.”
The event also featured presentations by the Wrangell Salvation Army, a troupe from the Seventh-day Adventist church, a song by Emmalani McMurren, and the traditional drumming of Thomas Rooney, Jr. during the reading of the names.
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