Tree board installs bur oak as memorial to former EMA Coordinator Jason Harper

Published by editor on Wed, 07/08/2020 - 3:14pm

The Hampton Tree Board, along with contributions from local law enforcement and emergency response professionals, recently planted a bur oak tree on the Franklin County Law Enforcement Center grounds in honor of former Franklin County Emergency Management Coordinator Jason Harper, who died last month. Pictured, from left, are Grant Lee Fire Department volunteer Jerry Huisman, a lifelong friend of Harper’s, son Colten Harper, who serves on the Hansell Fire Department, wife Becky Harper, daughter Jaelynn Harper, Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Rieken and Hampton Police Officer Mike Halsne. GREG FORBES/HAMPTON CHRONICLE

By:

Greg Forbes

Publisher

The Franklin County Law Enforcement Center grounds recently received a living memorial in honor of a man who dedicated his life to the safety of residents throughout the county.

The Hampton Tree Board late in June planted a bur oak tree dedicated to former Franklin County Emergency Management Coordinator Jason Harper, who passed away last month at the age of 53.

The tree will soon be ac-companied by a plaque.

Rick Rieken, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy who serves on the Hampton Tree Board, said the idea was first developed by the Hampton Police Department. Officer Mike Halsne pitched the idea to Rieken, who then contacted Hampton Tree Board Presi-dent Randy Sanders.

“The police department wanted to do something for Jason and wanted to have something that was more of a living memorial, so they talked amongst themselves and asked if that would be something we would be wil-ing to do as a tree board,” Rieken said.

Rieken said he suggested a bur oak tree be selected for the memorial as a symbol for Harper’s approach to leader-ship as the EMA Coordinator, member of the Hansell Fire Department and former mayor of Hansell.

“He always was that big, strong, silent type and had that laid back protector type of mentality,” Rieken said. “We thought that fit him.”

Other living memorials in Harper’s honor have begun to pop up throughout the county as well. Becky Harper, Har-per’s wife, said a tree was recently planted in Hansell City Park and a park bench will soon accompany the tree.