Once-tiny Lake Ridge tree gets honor from Alexandria

Longtime Lake Ridge residents Bruce and Lora Ker have a unique reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving. Their beloved evergreen tree, which grew up in their front yard, is now a gorgeous fir tree about 30 feet tall, and has become the official Christmas tree in Old Town Alexandria.

Festivities in Alexandria this week include the tree lighting ceremony from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in historic Market Square, and the Ker family has been invited. They're excited about seeing their picturesque tree in a wonderful place where it will have a festive part in the holiday season.

When the Ker family, with their three children, moved into their Lake Ridge house on Amesbury Street in 1989, the little tree in their front yard didn't look like much. It was so small that son Kevin, age 7 at the time, had fun jumping over the tree.

The family called it their "Charlie Brown Christmas tree" because it looked so scrawny, and they began a tradition of putting lights on it, for as long as Kevin could still throw lights over the top branches.

"We never fertilized it or watered it," said Bruce Ker, looking up at their symmetrical, vibrant evergreen towering above him.

"The only pruning it got was when our dog Keuka would bite at it," he joked.

Over the past 20 years, the tree became a familiar landmark in the neighborhood as it thrived and reached the image of a lofty, perfectly shaped Christmas tree.

Lora Ker remembers thinking how nice the tree would look in a place like the White House. She and her husband heard from a friend that Alexandria was searching for a Christmas tree. Lora Ker was excited to know their tree was accepted. Last week, it was moved by crane and flat bed truck to Market Square.

Bruce and Lora Ker agree that they'll miss the tree that's been part of their lives for so many years, but say that it will be good to see lights on it again this season.

"We are pleased that the good Lord gave us such a beautiful tree, and the opportunity to share it," said Lora Ker.

It's been quite a ride. The little tree from Amesbury Street is now in a place of honor on King Street, where the Kers hope it brings happiness to lots of folks this Christmas season.

Gayle Urban reports neighborhood news for the Lake Ridge/Occoquan area.