An unoccupied chair, with a flag draped over its back, sits in a building in downtown Greenwood in honor of troops serving overseas.
Charles and Janet Spain of Charles Spain Auto put together an elaborate Christmas display along with a homage to the troops, every year in their downtown shop.
“I love Christmas, it’s a special time of the year,” Janet Spain said. “I honestly believe people are different at this time of year. They are more patient with each other and they smile a little more.”
The devotion to the troops is a way, Janet Spain said, to let the local families know that they are being remembered.
“There are going to be several homes with an empty chair at their table this year,” Charles Spain said. “Either because they are overseas or they were lost.”
The collection has been building for over 20 years and includes village pieces, toys, 12 Christmas trees and other Christmas items.
Janet Spain, who has cancer, drew a “blueprint” of the village layout for her children to follow. The display changes every year.
Charles Spain said he loves to help set up the Christmas decorations.
“I thoroughly enjoy it,” he said. “It is nice when a lot of people come by to check it out and look at it. A lot of people look forward to each year and they come out, especially at night.”
Charles and Janet Spain said they plan on enlarging the display next year.
“I love to just wander around the display. It’s a passsion I guess,” Janet Spain said. “I don’t know what else to say.”
