As hundreds of well-wishers chanted, "Burn that tree," and, "Burn, baby, burn," 11-year-year-old Joey Jacobsen used a flare to set fire to the tree that came crashing down on him six months ago during a wood-cutting expedition in Markleeville.
The tree-burning was the climax of a free community barbecue Saturday at the Douglas County Fairgrounds hosted by Joey and his family to show their thanks for the support extended to the Jacobsens since the near-fatal accident Nov. 22, 2008.
"It's time to do what we've waited six months to day " say 'goodbye' to that tree," said Robbi Jacobsen, Joey's mother.
With an East Fork Fire District truck near by, the tree was ignited outside the fairgrounds building.
Joey's father, Tim Jacobsen, wheeled his son toward the burn pile and handed him the flare.
The crowd erupted in cheers when the tree burst into flames.
Prior to the tree-burning, about 500 people stopped by the fairgrounds to enjoy the barbecue and meet the Jacobsens whom they've come to know through the family's CaringBridge Web site.
"I can't even find the words to thank you for all that you've done for us," said Susie Jackson, Joey's aunt. "You've shown us so much love and compassion and fortified my belief that people are inherently good."
Guests at the party included the Starbucks crew from Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno where Joey was hospitalized for two months, the CalStar helicopter flight crew that transported him from Markleeville to Reno and the staff from the Marriott in Emoryville where family members stayed during Joey's two months in rehabilitation at a children's hospital in Oakland.
Other guests included family members from Colorado, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
Cousin Jeremy Nelson, who provided most of the daily CaringBridge updates on Joey's condition, read an emotional tribute from what he said was his last entry, now that he was turning that job over to Joey.
Nelson said during the darkest hours at the hospital, Joey's father Tim Jacobsen, adopted the philosophy "We believe," and never gave up hope in his son's recovery.
In the days following the accident, "We Believe" signs and ribbons in yellow and black popped up all over Carson Valley reflecting the the colors of Joey's Little League baseball team, the Pirates.
In an entry posted Sunday on the Web site, Dawnne Hirt of Minden summed up the feeling of many visitors to Joey's page on CaringBridge.
"It was a complete pleasure to attend your party yesterday! Up until one month ago my husband and I had no idea what the "I Believe" all over Gardnerville was for. We thought it was a Christmas thing to begin with but it was never taken down and then we thought that maybe it was a U.S. Army thing. Were we wrong! We have two sons (5 and 8). We felt that they should participate in your celebration of life because we take it for granted sometimes. We are so happy for you and your family at your recovery and how well you are doing. I hope I'm not too late to offer you our very deepest thoughts. Keep working hard! Your parents are awesome and so are you!"
SEND A MESSAGE TO JOEY
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joeyjacobsen/guestbook
