Harbor City resident goes all out with lights to ‘remember and honor’ those who serve

Los Angeles City firefighters check out a fire-themed mannequin at a tribute-themed Christmas lighting display in Harbor City on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)

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A Los Angeles city fire truck rolled up to Sandie Freeman’s Harbor City house this week to see for themselves.

Thousands of Christmas lights, some in red-white-and-blue, others the more traditional Christmas colors, covered her two-story home in tribute to the military and “our local heroes in the police and fire” departments, Freeman said.

Freeman, with the help of her daughter, Corrina Michalak, and anyone else who wants to pitch in, does it “big” every Christmas, choosing a theme each year. Residents next door have simply put up one of the lighted “DITTO” signs with an arrow pointing to their neighbor’s festive property.

Past themes have included “Santa’s Christmas Trees” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Freeman’s husband, David, who died on Valentine’s Day in 2022, was the inspiration for what she knew would be her 2024 light spectacular — “Remember and Honor.” He was a U.S. Marine who served in the Vietnam War (1965-69) and then spent 30 years with the LA City Fire Department at Station 48 in San Pedro. He was among the first responders who headed to New York following the 9/11 attacks.

“They don’t get enough recognition,” Freeman said of the first-responders and military personnel. “So we just thought we’d do a theme that was ‘a hero’s Christmas.’”

Fire Department Station 85 came by on Monday night to check it out.

“They had some cookies and hot chocolate and were very moved by it,” Freeman said. “They were proud to be honored.”

Neighbors also came out to join in appreciation of the effort.

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The display includes some 30 artificial trees set up throughout the property — no “real” Christmas trees at their home after Freeman’s husband responded to one-too-many fatal tree fires one Christmas.

“He said, ‘no more,’” Freeman said. “So we save those for the forest.”

The rooftop includes a giant eagle.

Some of the items were purchased this year after the Fourth of July, Freeman said.

“There’s no political message here,” Freeman said. “It’s strictly to remember and honor those who are busy saving our country and our lives.”

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