A tree-planting ceremony in remembrance of those who have died from COVID-19-related causes will be held on Dec. 27 at Monte Bella Park, 2485 W. Alton Gloor Blvd. in Brownsville. The event begins at 9 a.m.
“This is open to the public,” said city of Brownsville spokesman Manny Chacon. “We invite everyone and anyone who has lost a loved one to COVID.”
All other members of the public are invited as well. This is the first of four tree-planting remembrance ceremonies to take place, the other three slated for other parks around the city next year. For the Dec. 27 ceremony, city leaders will be on hand along with Brownsville Firefighters Pipes and Drums and Pastor Brad Burkes, city chaplain, plus representatives from the sponsors paying for the trees.
The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation and Brownsville Public Utilities Board each donated $10,000, while the Brownsville Beautification Committee donated $10,000 plus the cost of the project manager. DHR Brownsville Valley Baptist Medical Center Brownsville and Valley Regional Medical Center each donated $2,500 to the project.
City Commissioner Rose Gowen said she’s always wanted to see more shade trees planted in Brownsville, and came up with the idea of the planting as a fitting way for families and friends to remember those taken by the virus, which has killed several hundred city residents since the start of the pandemic. Each planting — at Monte Bella, La Posada, Brownsville Sports Park and Portway Acres Park — will involves 15 shade trees of native species, she said.
“I wanted to plant not just one tree but a grove of shade trees, so that people for generations can sit under the shade and think about their mother, father, brother, sister, whatever, who might have passed away from COVID,” Gowen said. “Even if you didn’t lose someone to COVID, it will be just this special place of memory where someone could sit and read a book or say a prayer or just remember those that have come before.”
Just when the other ceremonies take place depends on tree availability, though an equal number of trees will be planted and ceremonies held in parks in each of the city’s four districts, she said.
“It’s a living memorial that will be enjoyed for many generations,” Gowen said. “What better way to remember a life than with something live?”
Signs eventually will be erected at the four parks explaining the significance of the groves, she said, adding that she’s hoping for a good turnout on Dec. 27 as well as for next year’s planting ceremonies.
Project Manager Scott Pajeski said the Monte Bella planting is finished except for the last tree, which will be planted symbolically during the ceremony.
“The rest of the grove is in,” he said. “It looks good.”
The Monte Bella trees, from Simmons Tree Farms in Harlingen, are “mostly live oaks, cedar elms and one bur oak, which is native though you don’t see it often,” Pajeski said.
The project is using native trees since they’re more likely to survive a long time, he said, adding that the trees have a high visual impact and will provide shade to heavily used areas of the park.
“We’re also getting a good practical use out of these trees,” Pajeski said.
Chacon said the Dec. 27 ceremony will be a “nice event really just to pay our respects and honor the lives lost to “COVID-19”
“Planting a tree is our way of saying, ‘You will never be forgotten,’” he said.
