Memorial Trees in the Washington Mall and the Bank of Butterfield, Reid Street Branch.

As a P.A.L.S nurse, I felt compelled to establish this tradition because when a loved one has been lost to cancer, the Christmas holiday especially can be a reminder of that great loss. Christmas is such a family-centered day that it tends to revive memories of those no longer with us whether they were lost to us in the distant or the near past.

During the holiday period, P.A.L.S. nurses and staff are not able to visit all of our families who experience the loss of a loved one and we provide the trees and decorations so that these families can remember them in a unique way by placing a written message on the tree. They can thus relive the love shared and reflect upon the gift of their special person's life.

Grief counsellors suggest that we might choose some way to celebrate a loved one's life during the difficult time of Christmas. This is the spirit behind the idea of the Tree and, in coming to it, you may realise that you are not alone in your grief.

As soon as I learned that my idea of the Tree was approved by P.A.L.S.

Management Committee, I approached Mrs. Janice Bell and Mrs. Bernice Lema for assistance and they immediately agreed to contribute their many talents to make this idea a reality. They have worked tirelessly these last two Christmasses and I now understand why I was led to these two lovely ladies.

Mrs. Gail Aruda, Manageress of the Washington Mall, Mr. John Hook and Staff of the Corporation of Hamilton, Mrs. Janet Nearon and the Staff of the Bank of Butterfield were very patient throughout this venture and we greatly appreciate their efforts.

Many thanks to all the volunteers and friends who manned the P.A.L.S.

Christmas Memorial Trees. We could never have managed without you. I am sure your readers would like to know that over 2,300 messages were placed on the Trees and over $8000.00 was donated to P.A.L.S., which will be of great help in our work of caring for the cancer patients within our community. To those who came, we hope that it brought some degree of comfort to you. It did for me.

JOANNE ARMSTRONG, RN P.A.L.S. Nurse