Calling all elves to help at the South Lake Tahoe Children's Memorial Tree

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's that time of year again when Santa's elves visit South Lake Tahoe and decorate the area around the Children's Memorial Tree in time for Christmas.

The elves need some help this year, so if you would like to get into the spirit and help them decorate, head to the tree on Monday, December 5 at 11 a.m.

They will be putting up the Christmas Tree and other decorations, so feel free to bring along an ornament too!

The unique thing about this tree is there will be a red stocking for all 244 children memorialized on the Children's Memorial Tree. The tree is dedicated solely to local children who have passed away as their lives were just beginning.

The Children's Memorial Tree is located near the corner of Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Wildwood Way.

The Children’s Memorial was dedicated on October 2, 1994. Community members Paul and Sue Hrbacek initiated the memorial following the tragic death of their son Rory Hrbacek and his two friends, Sandy Haynes and Casey Smith on Pioneer Trail. The vision was to “create a space for families to honor young people from our community who had died.” Several organizations contributed to making the memorial a reality including the City of South Lake Tahoe which offered the location at the Wildwood Retention Basin on Highway 50.

Additional support for materials, installation, and other costs were also contributed by South Tahoe Public Utility District, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Lake Tahoe Unified School District, Sierra Pacific Power, Tahoe Daily Tribune, Jerry Hurwitz, Wilderness Productions and numerous individuals and businesses. Kenny Curtzwiler has been an advocate and caretaker of the tree since its dedication.