Little did he know, this tree was special – to more than just him. Bogue Chitto Attendance Center fourth grader Jacob Lester was greatly saddened by the destruction of a large beautiful tree on the school’s campus. Tropical Storm Isaac destroyed the tree in the summer of 2012.

“I was sad every time I walked by the spot where the old tree was,” said Lester.

When visiting with his handwriting coach, Lester told her about the tree week after week.

“He was so upset about it,” she said.

After his teacher saw how distressed Lester was about the dead tree, she helped him to write a letter to Bogue Chitto Principal Mickey Myers, asking if Lester could replant a tree. What they didn’t know was the tree was also special to Myers.

The tree stood in Karen Myers Memorial Gardens, built in memory of Myers’ wife who died of cancer in April of 2003. The gardens were built in the exact spot where Myers first laid eyes on his future wife, when they went to school together at Bogue Chitto. The tree was planted as a part of the garden.

Myers happily granted Lester permission to plant a tree and Bogue Chitto football players were commissioned to dig the hole. Lester placed the tree in the ground.

“Now every time I walk by the tree, it fills me with joy just seeing it,” said Lester.

The memorial gardens hold a gazebo, dry creek bed and a variety of shrubs and flowering plants, including Knockout roses, snowball bushes and Karen’s favorite, yellow roses.

“Karen’s compassionate spirit and ever-present smile endeared her to everyone with whom her path crossed. She was my best friend and a true inspiration to so many people,” said Myers.

Lester and Myers now find joy in the new tree, special to both of them.

“I hope other people will be inspired by my tree planting to do something for Mother Nature,” said Lester.