PHOTO GALLERY: Bedford Lights its Christmas Tree

The Bedford Women’s Club yesterday lit the town's Memorial Christmas Tree in front of dozens of local residents.

The club also presented its 2011 Inspiration Award longtime Bedford Police Chief David Bailey at the event, which was held at the intersection of Church Street and North Amherst Road.

who officially retired on June 30, was chosen for his professional approach to his 40 years with Bedford PD.

"Serving as Bedford’s Police Chief for twenty-two years, Bailey is proud of the team he has built," said a release from the BWC. "Now there are 34 full-time highly trained members of the Bedford Police Department."

The club also presented its Friendship Award to Fran Wiggin and its Recognition Award, presented posthumously, to Donald E. Folsom who served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946.

The Bedford High School chorus sang a couple patriotic tunes in respect of a small group of World War II veterans in attendance to commemorate the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. They, of course, also performed Christmas carols.

A moment of silence was held at the end of the event for Bedford Town Manager Russ Marcoux, who after a short battle with bacterial meningitis.