Stanton's Annual Memory Tree honors hundreds of loved ones

STANTON -- The holidays are right around the corner, and we're already seeing the signs across the state. But one tree in northeast Nebraska is decorated with a different purpose in mind.

For the 15th year in a row, Stanton County is honoring loved ones with hundreds of ornaments, all adorned on its Annual Memory Tree.

Organizer Loree Zach has added dozens of ornaments herself. She said it brings a sense of healing.

"When you actually make it in honor of someone," Zach said. "When we all get our ornaments up there, it's beautiful to me because it's all our loved ones together."

Every trinket on the tree represents a loved one that has passed away. Zach said there are over 200 names on the tree, some more recent than others. A long-time contributor to the memorial is now one of its newest additions.

"Kim Noelle helped with the tree," Zach said. "So now not only did she help with it and we put her bulbs on the tree, but we're also putting bulbs on the tree for her this year."

As the ornaments represent a variety of individuals, they are decorated in a variety of styles.

"I let my kids each put one on there for their Dad," Zach said. "They all have a different personality and they all remember different things."

Though the tree lives in Stanton, the memory-filled ornaments are from all around. Loree said she's putting up ornaments from Hawaii, California, and Arizona.

"We will honor anybody's loved one on the tree," Zach said. "It doesn't just have to be a Stanton thing."

The Memory Tree will be up and shining outside of the Stanton Health Center until after the holidays.

For more information, you can visit the tree's Facebook page.