Park lighting kicks off 50th Christmas on the River
With lights dancing in the trees and a jolly 32-foot Santa looking on, the 50th Christmas on the River opened Thursday in the Demopolis Public Square.
After a year off because of the pandemic, the Lighting of the Park drew hundreds of Demopolis residents, many of them friends and families of the children involved and of those being honored.
Flipping the switch to light the park was Myles James, named the Special Child for 2021. The Westside Elementary School student, born at 27 weeks, has been “busting down walls since he was born” as he battled cerebral palsy, said Special Child chairman Sara Bible. He is a class favorite, and his classmates root for him as he meets every new hurdle.
Playing homage to its roots, COTR recognized the three men who originated the idea of the “Floats that really float” for the city in 1972: local realtor Mem Webb, former Chamber director Hal Bloom and the late Barry Collins.
The three men “created a spark that changed Demopolis,” said Diane Brooker, co-chair of COTR. She presented keys to the city to Webb, Bloom and to Collins’ children Mayor Woody Collins, Tim Collins and Marie Cagle.
Mayor Collins praised the people of Demopolis, its employees and its businesses and industries for the “Demopolis can-do spirit” in putting on COTR each year.
Hundreds of people volunteer each year to see the celebration occur. “No community touches us,” he said.
Each year a Demopolis chooses a St. Nicholas, a citizen that works for the benefit of children all year long. Retired physical therapist Don Sprewell put on the miter and robe of St. Nicholas with the help of the 2019 St. Nicholas, Kim Carraway. Other nominees for the honor were Jason Windham, Andie Turberville and Jeff Stanley.
As a live nativity scene reminded all those who attended of the reason for Christmas, the Rev. Phillip White of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Gallion read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke, what he called “the greatest love story ever shared.”
In past years the COTR festivities began on a Wednesday night at Whitfield Regional Hospital as the Special Child lit the Love Lights Tree. Because of the extensive renovation going on at the hospital, the recognition of the Special Child and the lighting of the park were combined.
Hospital CEO Doug Brewer told the audience, “Next year expect a big party at the hospital.”
Brewer also praised the hospital’s Auxiliary. The women and men of the Auxiliary sponsor the Special Child in addition to providing other support for WRH.
“For a very long 15 months, we had to do without the volunteers,” he said. “They are a very important part of our care team.”
Once the activities in the park concluded, the young boys and girls serving as COTR elves led a procession of children holding hand-made lanterns to the Demopolis Public Library for a chance to visit Santa Claus.