Roots and memories: ‘Blue tree’ planted at Central Little League to honor player killed in July crash

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A remembrance ceremony at Central Little League included the planting of a “blue tree” to honor the lives of Juju Clem and her mother, Becky Lafontaine. Photo/Fred Harwood

MANCHESTER, NH – The Blue Trees installation which began at the Currier Museum of Art on Sunday continued later in the day with a tree planting in remembrance of Julissa Clem, 14, and her mother, Becky Lafontaine, who died in a July automobile accident in on Route 101 near Exeter.

Conceptual artist Konstantin Dimopoulos, who came to Manchester as an artist in residence at the Currier Museum for this installation, and his wife attended the remembrance ceremony to help with the dedication.

A Red Jewel Crabapple tree was painted blue, and the plot decorated to celebrate their lives for the ages. Many of JuJu’s Central Little League friends joined hands for a moment of silence to remember their dear friend.

And in a poignant and unexpected moment, just after the tree was planted, a butterfly came down and landed on the tree.

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