By Julie McCay Turner
Starting along The Great Road in mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve, Charles Hacala of the Bedford Minuteman Company and his son Edward outlined the roadway, placing a luminaria every few feet. Peter Secor and Tim Brown worked around Wilson Park and along Great Road in front of Fitch Tavern, and many residents worked independently at their homes. In all, several hundred luminaria line the roads in Bedford’s Historic District.
Another hundred or so luminaria line the paths and top the fence posts on Bedford Common. These appear in a flash, as if by magic, during the 4 pm children’s service at First Parish. “It’s wonderful to see the faces of the kids when they come out of church and see the lights,” said the one of the Christmas angels.
The luminaria kits are sold at Chip-In Farm in the weeks before Christmas, and that contribution does not go unnoticed by Bedford’s Minuteman Company. “We couldn’t do this without their help,” said Paul Ciacca.
The money from the sale of each kit helps to fund the scholarships that The Bedford Minuteman Company awards to deserving BHS seniors each year.
Click here for a behind-the-scenes look at tonight’s luminaria display.