In honor of Christmas, we at The Foley Onlooker decided to honor the day with a holiday tribute. So we decided to ask a few members of the South Baldwin community to tell us about their most interesting or favorite Christmas tree ornament. Below are their responses.

“Anything our four children have made over the past 20-plus years has a place of honor on our tree.”

— Russ Moore, Baldwin County Public Schools assistant superintendent

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“My favorite ornament can’t really be just one. It would be every ornament that my four children made during their elementary school years. Each ornament evokes the immeasurable love that I have for each one of my kids.”

— Bradley Byrne, U.S. Congressman, District 1 Rep.

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“My strangest ornament is a Jim Morrison (Doors) black bulb. We all laugh when people ask ‘Who is that?!’”

— Leslie Lassiter Gahagan, city of Foley environmental manager

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“I don’t really have a favorite tree ornament. However, the ‘Evil Knievel Snake River jump kit’ was the greatest Christmas present ever. (I have scars on my knuckles to prove it). The Stretch Armstrong action figure was a close second.”

— Jimmy Davis, Summerdale police chief

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“My favorite ornament is the single ornament we purchase each year at Christmas to represent that year. My wife and I have been married 15 years and we do that each year. “

— David Wilson, Foley police chief

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“Rottweiler ornament. Love those dogs!”

— Don Staley, city of Foley executive director of sports

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“My favorite ornament is one that was purchased in 1986. It’s a lighted hot air balloon with two bears inside and says, ‘First Christmas Together.’ My then boyfriend and I purchased it during the first Christmas we were dating, with such confidence that we would be together for many more years. I’m happy to say that 28 years later, we still have that ornament on our tree and just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this past April.”

—Karen Moore, Baldwin EMC vice president

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“My favorite Christmas tree ornament is a ceramic Aubie holding up his finger in the air signaling Auburn is No. 1. While it represents Auburn University to everyone else, it is where Tonja (my wife) and I started our life together. It is actually my favorite without question.”

— Major Anthony Lowery, assistant chief deputy Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office

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“My favorite ornament is actually an Auburn Santa Claus that we have on the mantle in my home. It reminds me of my time at Auburn and how much I really enjoyed the town and the school experience.”

— John Jackson, Foley Public Library director

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“One of my favorite ornaments is of ‘Mr Bingle,’ who once represented one of the grand department stores in New Orleans — Maison Blanche. Seeing him brings back wonderful childhood memories of my home town.”

— Alida Given, Magnolia Springs librarian

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“Ornaments my children made.”

— Huey “Hoss” Mack, Baldwin County sheriff