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Keith McCord Reporting A Salt Lake family is donating a tree that will stand tall at the Gateway shopping center. This year's tree has special significance to that family.
Here are the particulars-- it's a 50 foot tall (or taller) Blue Spruce currently in the front yard of an east side Salt Lake City home. Next Tuesday morning it will be cut down, and it will be an emotional day for the Christensen family.
Each November, thousands of people gather at the Gateway Shopping Center to celebrate the lighting of a giant Christmas tree-- a festive moment that sets the holiday mood.
Someone usually donates a tree for the event and this year's tree will come from Maria Christensen's front yard.
Maria Christensen: "We've always thought that this was the most gorgeous tree. We love this tree."
She's already emotional when she talks about having to give it up.
Maria Christensen: "I don't really know how I'll handle it next Tuesday. I think I'll cry through the whole process as they cut it down."
You see, this isn't just a tree. Over the years it's provided the backdrop for some significant family photos. When her step-son went into the army, she and her husband always wanted a photo of him in his full dress army uniform.
Maria Christensen: "He came home on leave a couple of times without it, but when he finally brought it home, we took two pictures of him, out here in front of this tree, and another facing the other direction."
Private First Class Philip Christensen died about a year ago during an army training accident. His photos are still prominently displayed in the living room. That makes it more difficult for the Christensens to say good bye to this old tree. The problem is, its huge roots are beginning to cause damage.
Maria Christensen: "Oh, the driveway is a mess. The sidewalk, the garage floor is even cracked in the corner."
Besides the big cracks in the concrete, there are concerns that high winds could bring the tree down. Several others in this neighborhood came down a few months ago. And so, with mixed feelings, when Maria heard that the Gateway was looking for a tree she made the call!
Maria Christensen: "And we thought this is the very best way for it to go, because that way others can enjoy it and it can go out in a blaze of glory."
Again, the tree gets cut down next Tuesday and then it'll be trucked over to the Gateway and erected in the grassy area next to the Olympic fountain.
The lighting ceremony will take place on November 24th, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and yes, Maria will be there!
