On Friday, December 13 at 5:30 p.m., the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is, as it has in past years, holding its special ‘Celebration of Life’ event. At the ceremony, the Sheriff’s Office will honor the lives lost in traffic-related incidents in 2023.
The annual event honors those lives lost through a tree-lighting ceremony and speeches.
Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers and his staff are inviting everyone to the event.
“Your presence and support are important as we unite to remember and cherish their lives,” notes the public invitation to the 2024 event.
The celebration, which usually lasts about an hour, will be held outside the Sheriff’s Office’s administrative headquarters – the Otto Zenke Building at 400 W. Washington St. in Greensboro.
The ceremonies are emotional each year as deputies read off the names of those who died in car crashes and other traffic-related incidents. During the event, there’s a light on the tree for each of the deceased – there’s a light on the tree for each of the deceased – representing the preservation of their memory.”
Each year, the ceremony also serves as a powerful reminder to citizens to wear their seatbelts and not drive after drinking – something that’s way too common in the holiday season.
Guilford County often ranks high in traffic deaths compared to the rest of the state. In 2021, for instance, Guilford County – the third largest county in the state – ranked second in North Carolina with nearly 100 traffic-related deaths.
In 2023, there were 1,756 traffic deaths across North Carolina.
On the day following the Celebration of Life ceremony, the Sheriff’s Office Re-entry Council, which helps former inmates integrate well back into the world, is helping out people and families in need of food.
The Office is hosting a food giveaway meant to help Triad families and individuals stock their pantries this holiday season. The Office hosted a canned food drive during November and all of those donations will be used for this weekend’s food giveaway.
Boxes of food will be distributed until they are gone.
If you or someone you know would benefit from getting some essential food items at no cost, the Office welcomes you to the Food Giveaway at the following times and locations:
- Saturday, December 14 at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of 211 S. Centennial St. in High Point.
• Saturday, December 14 at 9 a.m. at 400 W. Washington St. in Greensboro.
