Fifth graders decorate community Christmas tree, sing carols

COAL GROVE — A decade-and-a-half long tradition continued Tuesday morning with Dawson-Bryant fifth graders decorating the Christmas tree at the H. Jae Roush community building and singing Christmas carols at Jo-Lin Health Center.

Students in Lee Ann Cremeans’ class spent a couple weeks prior to decorating making ornaments and other decorations for the tree. Although the tradition has gone on for approximately 15 years, Cremeans’ class has only been a part of it for about four or five, she said.

“I like to help the community by people seeing the Christmas tree,” fifth grader Ashley Friend said.

Another fifth grader, Skylar Sexton, said she enjoyed making the ornaments to put up.

Vickie McDaniel, president of the Coal Grove Betterment Club, sets up the tree and puts the lights on it before the students come to decorate, and said she really appreciates the children’s work and efforts.

“We’re very thankful they come in every year and decorate. They do a wonderful job,” she said. “This building is rented by people every night in December and the tree makes a nice item.”

When the last ornaments were hung and the bow was placed at the top of the tree to complete it, the students headed to Jo-Lin to sing Christmas carols to the residents.