Tree Dedication

Friday afternoon was bitterly cold (43 degrees after a high earlier in the week of 91) with light rain and wind.  Not an afternoon that you would choose to stand outside for long.  However, absolutely nothing could keep us away from the Tree Dedication for Teri Heckert.  Teri was a beloved friend, teacher and mentor to so many and she is terribly missed.

The tree dedication took place in the area near the red barn on Truman's campus.  Teri's brother spoke eloquently about the symbolism of 'The Heckert Oak'.  This tree could live to be 500 years old.  It will stand tall and strong as a memorial to Teri for a very, very long time.  This particular tree was putting down roots about the time that Teri was 'putting down roots' here in our community.  The stone around the base of the tree was brought all the way from Maryland, where her brother lives.  It was a group effort by many to lay that stone and prepare the area around the tree.  All were honored to be a part of the project for Teri.  

We know that Teri left a mark on each of us.  We are thankful for our time with her.  We continue to pray for her husband, Chuck, and her two dear children, Diana and Eric.  My heart still catches when I look at them together without her.  But, this tree dedication and the ceremony on Friday serve as another balm to the sorrow felt, and help us to focus again on the future.  A future that Teri would have us embrace fully.

I will share below an excerpt from the Teri Heckert Memorial Scholarship brochure.  I believe it states so well what we all felt about Teri.  

"Teri was an exceptionally gifted teacher.  Among her most powerful lessons were those that demonstrate what it means to persist and even thrive in the face of adversity.  Teri overcame numerous obstacles on the pathway toward achieving her ambition of earning a Ph.D., building a teaching career at a university that she adored, and raising a family that would one day be prepared to venture out into the world to make their own unique and valuable contributions.  Teri's time with us serves as an example of how to live a life fueled by purpose, grace, generosity, compassion, faith, and above all, love.  Teri would smile knowing that she has made each of us richer for having known her and for learning the lessons that she so skillfully taught.  It is now our opportunity, our responsibility, and our privilege to demonstrate mastery of those lessons.  Teri displayed remarkable courage as her fierce battle with cancer concluded on February 19, 2014.  Her husband Chuck was at her side, holding her hand."