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Show Sentinel D2 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2009 Christmas Special Section Candle tradition extends to Pioneer Cemetery Christy Hardman STAFF WRITER Reta Tischner has begun a Christmas tradition in Salem almost 10 years ago that has spread all over south Utah County, and is still growing. On Christmas Eve people come to the cemetery to light candles on the graves of their loved ones. It began when she was reading a newspaper article about a candlelight vigil at the cemetery in Charleston, Utah, where they have been doing it for 100 years. Tischner said the idea moved her, and she took it to the mayor, who at the time was Randy Brailsford. Brailsford was excited about the idea, and they implemented it the following year as part of the city's sesquicentennial celebration. They advertised it in the city newsletter and Tischner hoped someone would notice it and come out. "We went at dusk on Christmas Eve, and when we went through the gate, I was moved to tears," she said. 'The whole cemetery was flickering. The vision I'd had was just as I'd imagined it. It's a night when you're really missing the loved ones that have passed on. It's a sweet connection you can make with them, as well as remembering the significance of light at Christmas, and it connects everything that Christmas is about." Tischner said that first night was "bitterly cold," and still the cemetery was full with big and small family groups, some of them singing, some saying prayers. Many left a gift or memorial at the gravestone of their departed family member. Tischner said the people bring their own candles, and they have learned from experience that when the wind blows, it's almost impossible to light or keep a candle burning there. Tischner said the best way is to get a wide-mouth canning jar, and put the candle inside of it, and all of it goes inside a white lunch bag. "That way the candles rarely burn out," Tischner said. "When we've gone in three days later, some of the candles are still burning." Lynn Durrant is the Salem City Council member over the Christmas Eve candles at the cemetery, and Tischner said she invites an elementary school to make the candleholders, and the Salem Youth Council lines the drive and the entrance to the cemetery with candles. "They light them at noon, and they're still burning at 10 p.m. at night," Tischner said. After a few years, people in Spanish Fork had heard about and participated in the Salem candle celebration, and they expressed interest in doing the same thing in Spanish Fork. Tischner said several of the city council members had family in the Salem cemetery, and had already participated in the experience on Christmas Eve, so it was easy to convince them to promote it in Spanish Fork. Tischner said again she was blown away when she went through the cemetery Jen Allen / The Sentinel IN REMEMBRANCE: A girl places flowers next to each headstone during the rededication of the Pioneer Cemetery in July. gates the first year Spanish Fork did it. Part of the reason the candlelight vigil had appealed so much to Reta in the beginning was because she lost a baby who was buried in the Spanish Fork cemetery. She said in years past when she had gone on Christmas Eve to the little grave, they were alone there. But this year it was full of flickering lights, with family members standing together singing and praying. "One mother told me how she had lost a little baby girl, and she had al- ways felt bad when she did the Christmas shopping for her other children, like she needed to do something for her lost baby too,1' Tischner said. "She told me when she lit her candle she felt the connection and was able to feel close to her, like she'd celebrated Christmas with her." Tischner said a few years ago a woman from Provo approached her about the idea of doing it there. The woman said the Provo cemetery was closed and locked at dusk on Christmas Eve. Tischner had Brailsford call the Provo mayor, who im- mediately gave his blessing for it. Since then, Tischner said Payson, Goshen and Santaquin have all adopted it. This year Tischner approached Janene Baadsgaard to include the Spanish Fork Pioneer Cemetery in the tradition. Baadsgaard has been at the core of the restoration of the Pioneer Cemetery. "I'm so grateful for all the efforts of the people who have made the Pioneer Cemetery what it is," Tischner said. "When you go there you know the people who settled this city are happy that someone finally acknowledged their resting place." Tischner extended an invitation for everyone who lights candles at the city cemetery "to continue on up the hill, and light an extra candle or two at the Pioneer Cemetery." When Tischner approached Baadsgaard, she said she has a hope and a dream of bringing light and joy to the Pioneer Cemetery on Christmas Eve. If this is anything like her vision of the other cemeteries, it too is soon to be lit with hundreds of flickering candles. GWlfettk * kntlau£s q (0 Books 273 North Main Street Spanish Fork 801-798-0137 FREE Our Christmas Gift to you (while supplies last) The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs Handel's Messiah One per customer No purchase required I I if. .1. '4 1 Christma 4"-7' Our spirits are all aglow, When we think of the good folks that we know; So to those who've stopped by here... Go our thanks for lighting up our year And know that whatever it is you do That our best wishes reside with you! J^fetry 46 North 100 East, Spanish Fork • 798-2228 FREIi SAVING BABYLON Reg $18.99 $539 Through Christmas! Must bring in ad to be eligible for special offers To first 30 customers (Limit one per customer) |