Crown Point Thrills Community with 2017 Tree Lighting and Tank Ceremony

Crown Point Thrills Community with 2017 Tree Lighting and Tank Ceremony

Crown Point lit up the night on Friday as they held their annual Tree Lighting Celebration and Tank Ceremony. Residents came together and united as a community to kick off the holidays with cheer, and solemn honor for our nation’s veterans.

People gathered and huddled close with family and friends in front of Crown Point’s historic Old Courthouse, as the Crown Point High School Choir kicked the night off with a handful of timeless Christmas carols. The local handbell choir, the Harmony Handbells came next, ringing in the season with their jingling versions of songs like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Mayor David Uran capped the celebrations with an address before lighting the tree, much to the delight of the cheering crowd.

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“This is one of the biggest weekends we have here in Crown Point,” said Mayor Uran. “Families get back together after a long year, and an event like this gets everyone into the spirit of the holidays. With so many families in town, people are looking for things to do, and this also promotes the town and our shops.”

Without the whole community coming together, the annual event wouldn’t be possible. From local businesses like M. J. Electric who sponsored the lights on the tree, to the Wittenberg Lutheran Village who served hot refreshments, and of course the many residents who came out to engage with their community, everyone had a part in spreading a bit of cheer. Katie Ruiz, whose son is in the CPHS Choir, enjoyed the festivities and took pride in seeing her son perform for the crowd.

“I think it’s awesome that he’s able to come out in front of all these people,” said Ruiz. “This is a great opportunity to come together as a community. We can support each other and bring more good into the world, and focus on the positives rather than the negatives.”

After the Mayor lit the trees on the square, many in the crowd moved down the street for the second event of the evening, the Tank Lighting. An M-4 Sherman tank stands guard in the city, and every year the city honors those serving in the military, both past and present, by lighting a memorial tree right next to the historic tank. Local Boy Scout Troop 45 as well as the American Legion and VFW honored American servicemen and women with a Presentation of Colors.

“It’s so exciting to see my son participating, I’m proud to be a Scout Mom,” said Cheryl Crnokrak, whose son participated in the Presentation of Colors. “Both my husband and I’s dads were in the military, and we’ve been very proud of them all our lives. It’s terrific that Crown Point honors the veterans who have done a lot for our country and defended our freedom.”

The Tree Lighting and Tank Ceremony are just the beginning of Crown Point’s holiday celebrations. From their Santa Parade on November 25th, to their Tour of Lights from December 11th to December 16th, there’s plenty to do in the town for those looking to get into the holiday spirit.

To learn more about Crown Point’s winter events, visit www.crownpoint.in.gov.