Honor trees can thank a special person

I was recently strolling through Capaha Park and was impressed by the number of memorial trees that I found. I wondered whom each individual was, who placed the tree in the park, and how they touched lives of others when they were alive. I am sure that there is a long story about each individual.

My wife, daughter, and I also planted a memorial tree for our son and brother, Chris. As I thought about him, I began thinking about those individuals who made a big impression on him. Although many people helped shaped his young life, one individual stood out as a coach and mentor. As I thought of that individual, I felt that I wanted to thank him in a special way for what he had done for my son.

Being a gardener, I could think of no better way to say thanks, than to plant a tree in honor of that individual. On Wednesday, my wife and daughter gathered with the Kitchen family as I planted for coach Terry Kitchen an honor tree at the new Cape Central High School, just west of the baseball field.

What has an honor tree got to do with gardening? Coach Terry Kitchen may not be a gardener when it comes to plants. But, I do know one thing, when it comes to coaching and mentoring kids, he has the biggest green thumb that I have ever seen.

My first impression about coach was through my son's comments about him at home during the few months that Chris was at Central Junior High School. "Mom, Coach gets really excited when he talks to us. Why, he's more like a preacher than a coach."

"Dad, Coach said if I really worked on tackling, I could get better. He gave me some pointers that I can work on."

Coach's influence actually made our job as parents easier. Chris came home one day and announced that he wanted an earring. Sixteen years ago, this fad was just beginning and old Mom and Dad were not sure we wanted our son sporting an earring. Wisely, Mom said to Chris, "What do you think Coach would think about an earring?"

Chris's response was, "Maybe I'll wait a few years."

Coach Kitchen instilled the concept of school spirit and the importance of the team in my son like no one else. He taught Chris the importance of knowing what his strengths were and how to use them. He taught Chris how to recognize his weaknesses and then how to work around them. He taught Chris that praying should be natural for a man.

Finally, Coach was there to help carry Chris to his final resting place. He was there to help us get through our grief. I'm also sure he was there to help Chris's classmates get through their grief.

Coach, we want to thank you for all you that have done for our family.

We can never express in words how much we appreciate you. But more importantly, we want to thank you for being a CHS Tiger, for bleeding black and orange, for bringing back to CHS the pride of school spirit, for helping grow all of the kids around you into the fine young men and women that they are. Coach, I would tell you all of this in person, but even now as I write this column, my tears keep dripping on the computer. I hope you can understand.

I also want everyone in Cape Girardeau to know how blessed we are to have had you at the helm of the athletic program at CHS. Now as you move on to CJHS and start coaching again, I know that you will touch the lives of all the young men and women that you work with, in the same way that you touched Chris.

Coach, thanks again.

Paul and Marilyn Schnare and Nicole Schnare-Siebert

Send your gardening and landscape questions to Paul Schnare at P.O. Box 699; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or by e-mail to news@semissourian.com.

HOW TO PLANT A MEMORIAL TREE:

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department plants memorial trees in several of its parks throughout the city.

To have a tree planted, first contact the department at 335-5421. There is a $150 fee that includes the tree and memorial stone.

Forms are available that list the preferred trees that can be planted.

The parks department usually plants about 15 memorial trees per year.