Mandy Straus brought a cheerful lantern to set beside her grandparents luminarias at the Reflections on the River event Thursday, Sept. 8 at Riverfront Park (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Thousands of luminaria lit up Riverfront Park last week to pay tribute to loved ones.
The annual Reflections on the River event, put on by Willamette Vital Health (formerly Willamette Valley Hospice), drew about 250 people to pay tribute to their loved ones.
Angela Ashley, Volunteer Coordinator for Willamette Vital Health, lights one of the 3,000 luminaria at the Reflections on the River event Thursday, Sept. 8 at Riverfront Park (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) D.H. Shearer from Bugles Across America prepares to play Taps at the Reflections on the River event at Riverfront Park Thursday, Sept. 8 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Susan Cooper holds a luminaria for her husband, Ruel Cooper II, during the Reflection on the River event at Riverfront Park Thursday, Sept. 8 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Valerie Freeman walks in the peace luminaria labyrinth at the Reflections on the River event Thursday, Sept. 8 at Riverfront Park (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Lynette Carr and Terry Carr were married for 27 years before Terry passed away last year. Lynette was sitting in front of his luminaria and holding his wedding ring in her hand at the Reflections on the River event Thursday, Sept. 8 at Riverfront Park (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Caesar the No-Drama Llama and his owner Larry were also on hand for hugs at Reflections on the River event Thursday, Sept. 8 at Riverfront Park (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Mary Lucas and Chuck Lucas were both at peace at the Reflections on the River Event Thursday, Sept. 8 at Riverfront Park (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) The Hicks and Howerton families gathered together to tell stories and light luminaria for Winnie Hicks, who wanted to be an entomologist and could do very good imitations of a chicken at the Reflections on the River event Thursday, Sept. 8 at Riverfront Park (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
