A small all-American city is standing its ground behind a central figure that has become deeply rooted in its history and traditions.
Since the founding of La Vista, Neb., a small Midwestern city in the state where Arbor Day sprouted to life in 1872, residents found their holiday spirit around an old Colorado blue spruce as they sang Christmas carols and stood in awe as the majestic branches were illuminated by thousands of lights, the Wall Street Journal reports.
However, the tradition was thrust into jeopardy when a 20-year-old man, who has since left the state, allegedly sawed through the 55-foot tree’s base in an attempt to cut it down.
In a fitting twist, the accused man’s fate relies upon the life he has been charged with trying to take, the newspaper reports. If the tree, which appears to be barely hanging on, fails to survive the winter, Johnathan P. Roy could face five-years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The Wall Street Journal reports that people in town are angry and are monitoring the tree’s progress very closely. It is refreshing to see a community rally behind what is most valuable and not just turn its back on its history and just ring in the holidays with a young sapling.
For 40 years, the tree stood proudly as a representative of both Christmas and the city itself. Now, when the tree finds itself most vulnerable, it is inspiring to see the people rally behind it rather than simply move on as our society too often does.