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Show Thoughts From The Garden... by Tonya LeMone Every year during the Christmas season I am hooked on Hallmark movies. During this season Hallmark movies play every day and every night and include the tear-jerker commercials as well. For me these movies add to the enhancement of the Christmas season and make me wish I was in a Hallmark movie if only for a moment. However, every year my husband threatens to toss the television. Why you ask? And, would that not be un-American to ban Hallmark movies from one's home? I admit every show is very predictable. Girl meets boy who's wife has died, they form a relationship with the help of Mrs. Miracle, they have a quarrel then one of the children helps one of the adults see the light and profess true love under either a town Christmas tree or a bunch of mistletoe. Sounds so perfect to me and simple, not to mention no one is brutally murdered, sleeps together, or has an affair. It is good simple entertainment and when it is over your Christmas spirit has grown, if only in the slightest way, it has still grown and added to the season of perpetual hope. I have always wanted to be part of one of these Hallmark movies and last night I had the opportunity to do just that. Lindon City's annual tree lighting is so Hallmark there should be a tear-jerker Hallmark commercial in between the prayer so beautifully given by Pastor Mike and the sweet school children singing the good old Christmas carols that are no longer allowed to be sung in public schools. The Lindon City's tree lighting event started in 1934 during the Great Depression and at that time Lindon was very small with a population of only 300 residents. The effects of the depression were felt by everyone. The citizens of Lindon felt that a tree lighting ceremony would help brighten the Christmas spirit of the residents during this very difficult time for our country. A pine tree on the Lindon LDS church property at the . corner of Main Street and 400 North was chosen as the community Christmas tree. That first year it was lit with only 20 colored light bulbs and strings of popcorn and apples. Every year that tradition continued until 1942 when the "lights out" was enforced during the war. That tradition was not renewed until 1993. Every year since, 20 to date, the tradition of the tree lighting has taken place. Today the event takes place at the newly renovated Lindon City Community Center, but you can still see the white star lit atop the old pine tree where the old LDS chapel sat on the corner of 400 North and Main Street. It is here that a few citizens of Lindon stood so many years ago hoping that a simple tree lighting might lift their spirits during very difficult times. They stood tall with thankfulness for their community and prayed for their community, making it a perfect Hallmark movie moment. That tradition which started so many years ago continues to bring the citizens of Lindon together once again, not only to bind them as a community and possibly lift some who may be struggling, it also gives hope to those who have loved ones serving our country. Just like those so long ago, the annual tree lighting helps to build memories for young and old and rekindles a sense of community. Lindon is a great place to live, raise a family and to have an opportunity to step into a Hallmark movie if only for a moment. See you in the Garden |