Man writes ‘Kevin’ in Christmas lights for 20 years to honor neighbor

By Amy Reast via SWNS

A man has spelled out 'Kevin' in Christmas lights for 20 YEARS in honor of his young neighbor who lost his battle with cancer.

Mike Witmer, 56, of Maryland, says passers-by are sometimes confused by his lights as 'Hi Kevin' is emblazoned across his roof.

The dad-of-two explains that it's a heartfelt tribute to his former neighbor - a young boy who passed from cancer in 2010.

For the past two decades, he has featured a reference to Kevin in his light displays.

The pair had lived on neighboring roads and Kevin had loved seeing Mike's light displays each December.

Kevin was diagnosed with cancer in 2002, aged 11, and that year Mike had written 'Get Well Kevin' in lights.

He continued to reference Kevin in his Christmas lights every year until his tragic death in June 2010 aged 19.

Mike vowed to honor Kevin's life by continuing their much-loved tradition - installing his largest display yet on his roof so that Kevin could still see the lights from above.

Mike, a land surveyor, from Gaithersburg, MD, said: "Kevin was a cool kid in the neighborhood - he swam on the local swim team with my kids and we all became friends.

"When I heard he had cancer and was going through chemo and radiotherapy, I wanted to support him.

"I had this idea to write 'Get Well Kevin' in my Christmas lights - what 11-year-old doesn't want to see their name in lights, cancer or not?

"I decided to do it every year after that because he loved it - even when he went into remission and went off to college.

"But he had just finished his first year of college when the cancer came back - and it took him.

"I told everyone to come by that year and the 'Hi Kevin' would be bigger so he can see it from up in heaven.

"This is my 20th anniversary of the tribute to Kevin, and I'll keep doing it every year as long as I'm able."

Kevin was just 11 when he was diagnosed with lymphoma.

He began treatment and it was unclear whether he would be well enough to spend Christmas at home.

On 23rd December the doctors confirmed he would - and this became the year Mike's tradition began.

Mike said: "Kevin was a good athlete and had a great sense of humor.

"He was very outgoing and would talk to anyone - he was just an overall cool kid.

"He was just a great person, all the way around.

"I don't know what exactly made me think of the lights for him, I just wanted to support him."

Kevin's mother told Mike that Kevin loved the display so much that he had asked if it would be done every year.

Mike said: "I thought 'how could I not?' and the tradition was born."

Every year after that, Mike would find some way to display a tribute to Kevin in his lights display.

Each year it would be placed in a different spot for Kevin to find - like a game of 'Where's Wally?'

Mike continued the tributes even when Kevin went away to college in 2009.

Mike was invited to speak at Kevin's funeral as their sweet friendship was well-known in the area.

Mike said: "Afterwards, I invited everyone back to my house.

"I told them this year the tribute would be bigger and better, on the roof so Kevin could see.

"There wasn't a dry eye in the house."

This year marks 20 years since Kevin was diagnosed and the tradition was born - and Mike hasn't missed a single year.

Kevin's family has since moved away from Gaithersburg, but Mike and his family have kept in touch with them over the years.

After sharing the sweet story on a Facebook post, it was shared widely and attracted thousands of likes and comments from people touched by his tribute.

Mike said: "I'm very appreciative of all the attention it's getting. It's really been amazing.

"But when I started the lights tradition, it was just a little gesture to Kevin, and it still is.

"I'm thrilled to be along for the ride, but it's not really about me.

"It's just a tribute to a really cool kid who didn't deserve what was happening to him."