"The Freedom Tree" Dedication

On Sunday, 15 December at 6:30 p.m., a newly planted "Freedom Tree" will be dedicated and illumined at The First Parish Church, 673 Main Street in Bolton. The tree replaces one planted in October 1974 to honor Bolton's Lt. Col. Howard Stephenson, Jr. and others who were then Missing In Action in the Viet Nam War. Lt. Col.Stephenson's family continues to operate Bolton Spring Farm. In March 1972, a gunship carrying Stephenson and other military personnel was shot down near the Laos/Viet Nam border, and he was declared MIA. The Bolton community was much affected by this loss, and two years later planted a blue spruce donated by the Stephenson's on the old Bolton Town Common between the First Parish and the Town Hall. It was known as "The Freedom Tree," and grew to immense height in the past forty-five years. Twenty years ago, the church first illumined the tree as a gift to the town at Christmas time. Unfortunately, the Freedom Tree became diseased and had to be removed earlier this year. The First Parish warmly invite everyone, especially veterans, to attend the dedication of the new tree, and enjoy refreshments afterward.