The PALS Christmas trees in the Washington Mall and the Reid Street entrance of Butterfield Bank have, for the past 11 years, served as a memorial to those who have died — initially from cancer, but now for any reason.

Tall and perfectly shaped, their lush green branches gradually become covered in blue and silver balls, and blue birds (the PALS logo) placed there by the public. To each decoration is attached a tiny card on which a message of remembrance has been penned.

"Some of the messages would make you weep, especially those written by children who have lost a parent," PALS president and CEO, Mrs. Ann Smith-Gordon, says. "It is very, very touching."

In fact, volunteers who man the donations and decorations tables often find the experience very emotional as people take time to relate the sad stories of their loss.

The concept of the PALS trees originated with former PALS nurse, Mrs. Jo-Anne Armstrong, who had seen something similar abroad and thought it would be a lovely thing to repeat in Bermuda.

From the outset, it has never been the registered cancer charity's intention to charge for the decorations which the public attach. Rather, it simply wants to provide a place, free of charge, where those who have lost loved ones can come and express themselves at a very difficult time of the year.

"Our tree is very different from all the others," Mrs. Smith-Gordon says. "We don't ask for anything in exchange for an ornament." Yet the public has always voluntarily given donations at the same time — so much so, in fact, that PALS now has daily volunteers on duty to man the collection buckets.

"When people ask us 'How much?' for the decorations and we say 'Nothing', they just plonk a donation in the bucket anyway,' Mrs. Ann Smith-Gordon says. "It really is amazing."

In the 11 years of the trees' existence, there has only been one unfortunate incident. Last year, a thief grabbed the donation bucket and ran from the Mall.

"Someone found the bucket outside, but it was empty, so now it's chained to the table," Mrs. Smith-Gordon says.

She estimates that a "staggering" 2,000 or so people visit the tree in the Washington Mall during the time it is up, and cites the case of one lady from St. George's who travels to Hamilton by bus every year specifically to visit the tree and make a donation before returning home on the next bus.

Mrs. Smith-Gordon also recalls the little girl who approached the table while fumbling in her bag. Finally, she pulled out a penny, and proudly dropped it into the bucket.

The PALS tree in the Mall is officially lit in a special ceremony, enhanced by the presence of the Gilbert Institute choir. Trained by their music teacher, Terry Henry, and directed by school principal Mrs. Eunice Jones, they sing their hearts out, to the delight of all who gather. Archdeacon Andrew Doughty also has a story and message for those present, particularly the children, before the tree is lit.

"He does a wonderful job, and many parents come to hear the children sing," Mrs. Smith-Gordon says. "There were 36 in the choir this year, and they had in tow the smaller ones who will be in the choir in two years' time."

Traditionally, the PALS tree in Butterfield Bank is donated by the Bank, while Aberfeldy Nurseries donates the one in the Mall, but because the latter's shipment was destroyed on arrival this year, the Corporation of Hamilton stepped in with a replacement.

Erecting the tree, putting on the lights, and decorating Washington Mall is a big task, but between a band of PALS volunteers; students from Saltus Grammar School, CedarBridge Academy, Warwick Academy, St. Patrick's Church youth group, and Washington Properties maintenance man Mark Wood, it all gets done on the Sunday morning before Thanksgiving.

Washington Properties donates the lights for the big tree, but PALS decorates another, smaller tree in the Mall, as well as the overall Mall itself.

"One of my administrators, Mrs. Lynette Waldron, is our volunteer co-ordinator, and she is charge of the decorating. She also finds volunteers to man the tables, and is there every morning to get them started," Mrs. Smith-Gordon says.

"In addition, Mrs. Janice Bell has helped us every year from the beginning by making the bows, placing them around the Mall, taking them down, and carefully storing them for the following year. For many years, Mrs. Bernice Lima also helped us with the decorating."

As with the Washington Mall tree, the people also decorate the one in Butterfield Bank with the PALS ornaments.

In the best traditions of recyling, lights and ornaments are stored from year to year. Only the little message tags are renewed annually. Touchingly, the old cards are not thrown out, but collected and burned, and the ashes scattered in a serene place.

• The PALS trees in both locations will remain up until January 4, 2009, but the ornaments and donations tables will end tomorrow.