In the early part of November, Dave’s family and friends donated two Northern Red Oak Trees to the Township of River Vale. The two young trees were planted on the strip of grass along Westwood Avenue in front of Eckert Drugs. A granite memorial will be placed at the base of each the tree; one with Dave’s “Wind Chimes” poem and the other with Dave’s personal information.
Standing with Mayor Paschalis are Uncle Bob and Aunt Jan, Dave’s Mom, Pat, and Grandpa Bob Large.
The next time you’re in town, stop by and visit Dave’s trees.
What better way to remember Dave than by planting trees?
Love the tree tribute to your special son:
the tree gives life, shelter, oxygen, beauty;
a place of rest and contemplation;
it endures in all seasons, renewing itself
as part of Nature’s cycle;
its strength and resilience have inspired poems
and philosophies of great human transformation;
trees were sacred to the indigenous pagan peoples for survival;
trees made possible the huge ships for wars and whaling,
transforming vast economies, human survival, and imperialism;
the tree renews and cleanses our air;
and even when the tree’s life ends, it gives back to the cycle of life.
Trees will always be sacred, through the ages.
There is no better way to remember such a wonderful person. A long time ago i decided i want to be cremated and spread to my sacred places, and have trees planted to give back some of what I took in my life from Nature, conceived out of simplicity and humility rather than from any sense of wanting to be honored for myself. I want to honor Nature, and the sacredness of her special gifts to me as i enjoyed them. I hope that Dave’s legacy and your remembrace of his life inspires more people to give back in their loss.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and way of coping.