OMAHA -- This year’s official Christmas tree of Omaha comes from a home in the suburbs of La Vista. The Croy family is donating their more than 40-foot evergreen from their front lawn in honor of husband, father and grandfather Robert Croy.
Croy would decorate the tree for the holidays every year, but since he passed in 2016 and the tree got too big, the family could no longer decorate it to the same standards as their loved one. So, they decided to donate their tree, which had stood taller than their home, to the Durham Museum to stand in Union Station. Union Pacific Railroad workers harvested the tree, which took around three hours.
Robert Croy planted the tree 38 years ago. Steve Croy, Robert’s son, remembered that day.
“It's kind of sad, because there's a tree being cut down. In fact, one of my nieces wouldn't come because she didn't want to see it get cut down. She knows it's for a good cause. But she didn't want to watch it happen,” he said. “There's a little sadness about it being gone and everything. But at least I know that it's going for a good purpose, a good cause.”
Steve Croy said he plans to plant another tree next summer.
Dawn Myron, the director of communications for the Durham Museum, said thousands of people throughout the Omaha-Metro area can now view the tree as their own as well.
“We're very excited because this year we're going back to an in-person tree lighting. It's been virtual the last three years. There's a lot of excitement about that. It's a tradition for lots of families,” she said.
The tree will be lit on Friday, Nov. 24 at Union Station.