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Article posted: 12/16/2012 5:00 AM

N.J. town finds hope in rescued Christmas tree

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A handmade ornament adorns the "Tree Of Hope," in Union Beach, N.J. The artificial Christmas tree was fished from the gutter following Superstorm Sandy, and the town has made it a rallying point amid the storm's devastation.

Associated Press

Dan Canales, left, and Ashley Papa, right, admire the "Tree of Hope" in Union Beach, N.J. Canales is one of many Union Beach residents who have adopted the tree as a symbol of hope amid the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.

Associated Press

A handmade ornament adorns the "Tree Of Hope," in Union Beach, N.J.

Associated Press

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In the days after Superstorm Sandy wrecked this gritty blue-collar enclave on the New Jersey shore, creating iconic scenes of devastation and loss, the artificial Christmas tree was just an inconspicuous part of tons of rubble, the detritus of people's lives in a town ripped open for all to see. A local youth soccer coach plucked the tree from its waterlogged storage bag, set it up in a vacant field — and watched in amazement as grieving residents made the tree their own, adorning it with handmade ornaments, lights, and messages of hope, defiance and recovery.
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    • A handmade ornament adorns the “Tree Of Hope,” in Union Beach, N.J. The artificial Christmas tree was fished from the gutter following Superstorm Sandy, and the town has made it a rallying point amid the storm’s devastation.
    • Dan Canales, left, and Ashley Papa, right, admire the “Tree of Hope” in Union Beach, N.J. Canales is one of many Union Beach residents who have adopted the tree as a symbol of hope amid the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.
    • A handmade ornament adorns the “Tree Of Hope,” in Union Beach, N.J.
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