The plaque for the Remembrance Tree reads, “In loving memory of those friends and loved ones who will remain at the heart of THON forever.”
During THON 2023, the Bereaved Family Contact Captains dedicated a tree in the Arboretum at Penn State to THON’s bereaved families, marking the start of the Remembrance Tree. The Remembrance Tree is a special place where families, friends, and the entire THON Community can go to remember the loved ones that were taken too soon by cancer. The tree resembles the THON Community’s love for these children and their families. As the seasons change, the area around the tree changes as well. Every year the tree regrows into a beautiful garden that resembles how the THON Community continues to pass down the memories and stories of these incredible cancer wizards.
The Remembrance Tree Event was created to celebrate the legacies of these children and their families. The walkway surrounding the tree is lined with colored vigil bags. When the sun sets, the bags illuminate the area around the tree, creating a scene that resembles the light that each of these children brought to those around them during their time with us. As Jared Quill’s pennant says, “you are our sunshine and the light of our lives.” Much like the light of these bags, the bright smiles of these children continue to radiate in the hearts of those who knew them, and their memories will continue to fuel THON’s fight forever.
