with reporting by Chris La Pelusa
SUN CITY – For the last three years, Sunflower Garden Club member Nancy Frank, N. 23, has helped honor our armed forces members at holiday time by coordinating a patriotic display of Sun City resident-supplied photos of currently enlisted family members.
“Each Christmas, the Garden Club decorates Christmas trees in both lodges, and we have a beautiful, patriotic Christmas tree which is red, white, and blue with all sorts of patriotic ornaments,” said Frank. “And they have a table next to that tree, where they always used to put some sort of flower arrangement or tablescape on the table.”
Every holiday season, the Garden Club’s tablescape features men and women of Sun City families, serving in the military. (Photo provided)
Frank got assigned to decorate the table four years ago. “I thought if it’s next to the patriotic tree, what would be more patriotic than pictures of our fellow family members from Sun City that are serving now?”
Frank put the word out, and the first year collected 22 photos to display. The second year saw an increase to 33 photos, and last year she assembled 55.
This year will be the fourth year of having the photo display, which will be put up on November 18. Anybody interested in contributing a photo must do so by November 15th. “It can be any size photo from at least the shoulders up of the individual alone,” said Frank, whose husband then duplicates the photo and sizes it down to 2 ½” x 3” to be framed. The original photograph is then returned to the family who supplied it.
Frank describes the display as moving and is grateful for all the help that she has received over the years, including the help of the Woodchucks.
“I had just put the pictures on the table,” Frank recollects of the second year. “I’m not very good with arranging…. And [Al La Pelusa] came up to me, and in so many words, told me I needed his help,” she says with a laugh. “And that he and the Woodchucks would be more than happy to make us a display…. They made a beautiful, big wreath made out of wood, and they put slots in it to slide the picture frames in. They did a fantastic job.”
Though Frank does not currently have any family members in the armed forces, she was formerly in the Army, her husband was in the Navy, and her son was in the Airforce, so she can personally relate to the touching display.
“I’ve seen people just stand there and look at all the pictures,” said Frank. “It sends it to the forefront that our military forces are made up of somebody’s son, daughter, grandchild, nephew, and the pictures just show that…. I’ve had a couple of women start to cry.”
Last year Frank collected photos of service men and women from a seaman recruit who’d just graduated bootcamp up to a Navy Captain, “which of course is next thing to an Admiral,” says Frank. “We have a great variety, and quite a few women. It’s amazing to me. And when I go to pick up the pictures, that’s the best part of the whole thing, because I get to hear the stories. The family tells me the history of the military member. Their pride is fantastic. It can be a very emotional thing.”
If you would like to contribute a photograph for the display, you may contact Nancy Frank at 847-669-7878 or email dafranks@sbcglobal.net before November 10. The photo may be any size and will be returned.
