The Honor Tree Program

The Honor Tree Program

History

   In 2018 BSA/Scouting Troop 218 set up an Honor Tree in the Headquarters of the Johnson County Kansas Sheriff’s Department.  The tree was adorned with 164 blue plastic ornaments each representing a Public Safety Employee (PSE) bearing their name, agency, and the date of  “End of Watch” . Supplementing the tree was a photo collage of the faces of all the fallen PSEs and an Honor Book, binder that provided a short bio and recent photo of each PSE.   (Attached is a link to one of the stories that was broadcast https://www.kmbc.com/article/boy-scouts-honor-fallen-police-officers-with-unique-christmas-tree/25655069   

Program Goals for 2019:

 The first and most important is to impress upon the youth groups participated that the people in public safety are just ordinary people like a neighbor or a relative.  The second purpose is to create interaction between the youth and PSEs.  The youth will work with the employees of the agency they select to construct the Honor Tree.  This is the first step toward lasting interaction. The third purpose is to show  the PSEs that the community respects and cares about them.  Creating a memorial to their fallen brothers and sisters is our way of saying the words they never hear, “Thank you for your service”. 

Why we Need your Help:

The Greater Kansas City Area is comprised on 19 counties.  That means their are 19 Sheriff's Departments, 5 federal agencies, about 100 Police Departments and about 100 Fire Departments.  Fortunately there are hundreds of youth groups in those 19 counties who can assist by adopting an agency.  The monies collected are to help cover the first year cost of putting up a display.  It is for the artificial evergreen, the lights , the garland, the collage, the Honor Book, and the ornaments.  The estimated minimum cost for this is $300.  Our fund raising goal is too allow us to add 30 or more displays making 30 or more relationship between your the public safety.  In future years the youth groups will have to incur the cost of replacing the ornaments with new ones for those lost in that year.  Next year we will try and add 30 more with a new funding drive.  The processes of bring the community together to help each other and share experiences should be an effort that never stops.  follow us at  https://www.facebook.com/LEOHonortree/ 

I thank you for your support

Chris Faoro, HONOR TREE PROGRAM COORDINATOR

BSA/Scouting Troop 218, Overland Park KS

913-481-7399    [email redacted]