Lions Plant Trees for Deceased Members

The Danbury Lions Club honored three of its members who died in the last year by planting three dogwood trees on Lions Way in Rogers Park Monday, which is the same week as Arbor Day.

The Lions Club has been honoring its members this way since 1991, and nearly 50 trees have been planted in the last 20 years, said Keith Beaver, the Lions secretary.

After calling the roll of the 30 Lions Club members present, Club Secretary Keith Beaver called out the name, “Joseph Hornak,” “Joseph Hornak, and “Joseph Hornak,” followed each time by a pause. He gently rang a small bell. Then the name “Kenneth Taylor” was repeated three times, followed by the bell. Taylor's name was followed by, “Alfred Cipriani,” three times. Then the gentle bell.

“Lion President Joan, our brother Lions Joe, Ken and Al are no longer able to answer the call at our meeting,” Beaver said.

“They worked long and hard to create the atmosphere of service and fellowship that makes us all proud to be part of this great International Organization,” said Club President Joan Bielizna. “The trees we shall plant are symbolic of the fact that in our hearts they are a Lion forever.”

The club members walked over past the children’s playground to a raised area where members of the city’s Forestry Division planted three new dogwoods. There the Lions and family members of the deceased members shoveled dirt around the new trees.

"My dad talked often about this," said Sue Rieve, daughter of Joe Hornak, as she shoveled dirt onto the first dogwood. "He said, 'You know, they'll plant a tree for me.' I wouldn't have missed this for the world."