Celebrating memories during the holidays

The holidays serve as one of the happiest seasons of the year, a time when family and friends gather together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company.

But the holidays can also be a time when people feel the absence of a loved one who is no longer around to join in the celebration. This grief and sadness can put a damper on the holiday season, which is why Memories Diner created a way for people to celebrate the memories of loved ones.

Scott and Lori Gorman, owners of Memories Diner, put up a Christmas tree in the restaurant and decorated it with blue lights. The idea and significance of the colors comes from Project Blue Light, a movement dedicated to remembering fallen officers.

The blue light signifies peace and represents those who serve as peacekeepers by protecting others. Project Blue Light is ongoing, but is highlighted during the holiday season to remember those fallen officers and celebrate those who come home safely everyday.

The tree serves mainly in memory of Scott’s brother, Jim Davis, who died in the line of duty while working for Ocean Shores.

Jim served as a team leader on the Ocean Shores Police Surf and Rescue Team and went out on a rescue a stranded surfer in a boat. He and his partner were in the boat when the gas tank shifted and capsized, trapping Jim in the water.

He was 41 years old when he died, and left behind a wife and five children. Jim served as a military policeman for six years, worked with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years and served the Ocean Shores Police Department for eight years.

Though the incident occurred on April 26, 1998, Jim’s memory is still alive and present with the Gorman family.

Scott and Lori explained they knew firsthand the grief they felt around the holidays, as they have missed Jim being around to celebrate in the season. They felt like the Christmas tree was a good way to honor his memory and other officers who have died in the line of duty.

But the purpose of the tree quickly grew and changed from there.

Lori said they knew everyone feels sadness at Christmas if they have lost someone they love, and they began offering for residents or visitors to honor the memory of a loved one.

The requests for ornaments for a loved one began flowing in, and Lori took the time to hand make each ornament. For those who were in the restaurant, they filled out their own ornaments while others submitted the names online through the Memories Diner Facebook page.

The tree is a beautiful collage of beloved people from the Ritzville area and names of individuals who have relatives or friends currently residing in the area. There are couples’ names sharing an ornament, while others are a single name. Some ornaments include a memory or the reason why that person is missed.

In a child’s handwriting, there is written a name, and Lori explained their grandson Dacota wrote it for his brother.

“We want to remember people all year long, but the holidays are always hard,” Lori said. “We want to reach out to others. This is a little way to say we’re all here for anybody.”

The Gormans said how the tree ornaments evolved has been touching, and the experience has moved them to decide they will continue the project each year.

They estimated more than 60 ornaments in memory of loved ones were placed on the tree this year, and they hope it will grow in the upcoming years.

The experience has been heartwarming for the Gormans and the patrons. It has become a centerpiece for conversation and has allowed people to take a moment to remember a loved one.

Lori said many people stop and read the names on the tree, taking pictures of the ornaments with a loved one’s name on it. Many of those photos have been shared online or through messaging, Lori said, and they are proud to provide the community with a central place to share their memories.

The Gormans said providing people with a moment to reflect and remember has been truly rewarding.

They hope the tree has helped people move from grief into positive thoughts and memories of their loved one.

The tree will be on display until after the first of the year, but many of the ornaments are being taken down and sent to the families. The Gormans explained people are welcome to add new names to the tree and the handmade ornaments are still available. They will also be adding the names of any officers who were killed in the line of duty in Washington this year in order to honor their service as peacekeepers.

“It just makes us feel like part of the community. We’re relatively new, and we wish to be a part of this community,” Lori said.

“We want to open our place up for others; whatever we can do to help to bring joy and hope.”