Posted 11:17 AM November 29, 2005
Boy lights up Circle
11-year-old flips switch on Indy's Christmas tree

Diana.Lamirand@Topics.com
December 1, 2005


Ben Bonne, 11, (left) of Lawrence helps Santa Claus greet holiday well-wishers Friday night before flipping the switch on the 43rd annual light display on the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis. -- Matt Detrich / Indianapolis Star


LAWRENCE -- It had been six years since 11-year-old Ben Bonne attended The Circle of Lights annual lighting and holiday kickoff ceremony in downtown Indianapolis.

"I was really little," said the Lawrence Township sixth-grader, who was 5 when his family took him to see the lighting ceremony. "Now we just watch it on TV."

This year, however, the Bonnes had a front-row seat at Friday's event.

The Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW 481 selected Ben's drawing --an American flag and the Soldiers & Sailors Monument cast in a yellow glow from Christmas lights -- as this year's coloring contest winner. As his prize, Ben got to flip the switch to turn on the 4,784 lights that are hung from the monument in the shape of a Christmas tree.

"I was really surprised. I never thought they'd pick mine," Ben said of the creative and festive drawing that was randomly chosen from more than 3,400 entries.

Ben, the son of Henri and Catherine Bonne, entered the contest after seeing it posted in The Indianapolis Star.

"He loves to draw," Catherine Bonne said, explaining how Ben has taken art classes at The Art Center in Broad Ripple for about five years.

"It's kind of cool," his dad said of Ben's entry. "It's completely original. He created the whole thing."

The Fall Creek Valley Middle School student and his family attended a VIP reception before flipping the light switch and stood front and center on the main stage with Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and Santa Claus during the festivities. The event also featured festive acts from entertainers throughout the state and ended with a fireworks display.

Event organizers expected nearly 100,000 spectators.

Call staff writer Diana Lamirand at (317) 444-5571.