@DeanIWright
BRISTOL – For the first time in recent years, Bristol held a tree lighting ceremony Thursday night to open up its holiday season on a hopeful note at Page Park Pool,
Hundreds of visitors along with the families of Bristol police officers shot in October who led the lighting of the display in honor of their sacrifices.
WTIC journalist Brian Shactman emceed the event with the tree donated by an area resident with a farm in Simsbury. Shactman noted one of WTIC’s employees was a Bristol resident and they had wanted to help in putting on something positive for the community after a late tough year. Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services set the tree up on the balcony of the pool area, one of several scheduled holiday festivities.
“It’s exciting and great to see the whole community out here,” said Kristopher Salls who said he had spent weeks putting together lights at the pool in his personal time with help from his wife Ashley Salls.
Mayor Jeff Caggiano honored Kristopher Salls with the Bristol All-Heart Award for his efforts in making the display possible with over 120 inflatables and around 300,000 lights, including the inflatables.
The mayor said he wanted the city to consider the lyrics of the Zac Brown Band song called “The Comeback.” He encouraged visitors to reflect on its messages looking to “hope and the light and the future” and their references to emergency workers and how they could connect with Bristol.
Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould introduced the honorary ceremony tree lighters as members of the DeMonte and Hamzy family, relatives of the deceased Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy who died in an October ambush shooting after responding to a domestic disturbance call. Officer Alec Iurato also responded, was wounded but shot the ambushing gunman. Family members lit the tree in their honor.
“On behalf of the Bristol Police Department, we see you and we care about you,” said the chief to the crowd. “We appreciate you and we cannot thank you enough for all of your love and support. It’s truly remarkable and it’s helping us through some very difficult times. We’re in this together and we’ll get through this together.”
Santa Claus was present to visit with families and Richard Theriault, Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble maestro and a director for Bristol Chorale, led the singing of Christmas carols.
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