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Community Spirit Shines Through Halloween Display

Oxford, Ohio — In the quiet town of Oxford, Ohio, Bill Pyles’ front yard is making quite the statement with its intricate Halloween decorations featuring numerous skeletons and bones.

However, for Pyles and his family, the seasonal exhibits aren’t what keep them on edge—it’s the onslaught of negative letters they receive each year. These messages from some disgruntled neighbors encompass complaints ranging from accusations of “worshipping the devil” to claims of “glorifying death,” which have left Pyles contemplating a reduction of his Halloween display.

Just when he was mulling over a more muted display for this year, a letter arrived that changed everything. “I stopped dead in my tracks in the driveway looking at that letter,” Pyles shared with CBS News, recalling the impactful note sent by local resident Tammy Weihe.

Weihe, currently battling breast cancer, makes the daily journey for her radiation treatments along a country road that passes Pyles’ home. Though her circumstances could have made the macabre decor overwhelming, her letter was unexpectedly uplifting. “The bone family and what they are up to…(is) a highlight of my journey,” she expressed in her note.

She revealed that as her final day of treatment approached, Pyles’ display brought her joy during a challenging time. “Tears came to my eyes, really touched my heart,” Pyles reflected, moved by her gratitude.

Motivated by Weihe’s uplifting message, Pyles decided to enhance his Halloween scene. He set to work creating an even more elaborate display to cheer her on during her last treatment journey. “It was very touching to think that somebody would go to that effort for a stranger,” Weihe remarked, appreciating the gesture. The two have since forged a friendship, maintaining regular communication.

Pyles shared that Weihe’s heartfelt note and their newfound camaraderie have overshadowed the previous hostility expressed in the hate mail. In fact, he has been inspired to not only maintain his Halloween display but to keep it active throughout the entire year. “Things are going to stay up and they’re going to stay active,” Pyles stated resolutely.

As for the anticipated continuing backlash? “There will be,” he anticipated, but that doesn’t deter him from spreading joy through his spirited decorations.

Source
www.cbsnews.com