Friend Honors Fallen Officer Through Christmas Display

Hundreds, if not thousands, of lights in one Christmas display can’t shine as brightly as the tribute being paid to a former Colorado Springs police officer on that same lawn.

Joanne Roth is honoring longtime family friend Jamie Royal in her annual Christmas lights decorations. A brain tumor killed Royal in February 2011.

Roth always goes all-out across her front and back yards, strigning up more than 175 lines of lights and wooden displays celebrating the season. The first thing visitors will see, though, is a display explaining why Royal was such a special friend.

“My dad was so full of life, so full of love,” said Shannon Royal, Jamie Royal’s daughter. “It’s just a celebration of his life.”

The home is at 1432 Bowser Dr., just north of the Citadel Mall.