TERRE HAUTE — Two special Christmas trees will illuminate varied emotions during a solemn ceremony Saturday.
The 6th annual Candlelight Vigil and Christmas Tree Lighting for all Victims of Crime, Missing Persons and All Military is planned for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Ribbon of Hope on the south side of Terre Haute’s City Hall.
“It’s part of our healing process,” said organizer Doreena Javins, who started the event as a way to get through the holidays after her 20-year-old son Scott went missing in the early morning hours of May 24, 2002.
“It just lets people know they are not alone. That there’s a support system out there,” she said.
Everyone is invited to attend, and to bring an ornament for one or both of the Christmas trees. One tree honors victims of crimes and those who are missing. The other tree honors military servicepeople, both those actively serving and those with past service.
The ceremony will run about an hour, Javins said, and will include comments from Mayor Duke Bennett, Prosecutor Terry Modesitt, Rev. Abe Miller, and the chairman of In Hope for Indiana Missing Adults, as well as poetry readings and musical selections. Refreshments will follow inside City Hall.
The ceremony is an emotional event for Javins and her husband Merv. Their son Scott would be celebrating his 28th birthday today. Scott, a student at Indiana State University, disappeared after leaving a party. His car and skeletal remains were found in the Wabash River in October 2007, more than five years later. Investigators ruled out foul play, and determined that he died by drowning after his parked car rolled down a boat ramp into the river.
This year’s event is about two weeks earlier than past ceremonies, which have had an average attendance of 50-100 people.
Anyone wanting more information about the event can call Javins at (812) 466-3459.
Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.
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