PLANTING A TREE FOR ARBOR DAY

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE 
Lt. Col. Mark Donnithorne, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron commander, helps plant a tree during the National Arbor Day observance April 26 at the R.P. Youth Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dennis Howk)

Tree-rific trees
by Lea Johnson
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

5/1/2012 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  -- Planting a tree is a gift you give to your children and grandchildren, and Peterson Air Force Base has left many gifts for future generations.

In a ceremony outside the R.P. Lee Youth Center April 26, Peterson AFB was presented the Tree City U.S.A. award for the 18th consecutive year by Andy Schlosberg from the Colorado State Forest Service. In addition, the Growth Award was presented for going above and beyond the Tree City U.S.A. requirements.

To be recognized as a Tree City U.S.A., a community must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with a budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

"Peterson Air Force Base has shown a commitment to maintaining and improving the trees that make up its community forest," Schlosberg said.

Col. Chris Crawford, 21st Space Wing commander proclaimed April 26 to be the Arbor Day observance on the installation.

The award was accepted by Lt. Col. Kathy Craver, 21st Mission Support Group deputy commander. Craver recognized Lt. Col. Mark Donnithorne, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron commander, as one of the driving forces behind Peterson's outstanding forestry program.

"This award is a direct result of the hard work by the staff in the civil engineer squadron. Your ongoing efforts to design, plant and maintain the trees on this base bring daily improvements to the quality of life," Craver said. "We are very aware of how much better our environment is because of the hundreds of trees and landscaping areas your staff has created."

Following the award presentation, kids from the child development center helped plant new trees outside the youth center.

Arbor Day was founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska City, Neb. "Most folks in most towns didn't see trees back then," Schlosberg said. "The special thing about Mr. Sterling is that even though he didn't see trees, he saw where trees could be."

An estimated one million trees were planted in Nebraska during the first observance of Arbor Day.

Arbor Day is now celebrated nationwide on various days depending on growing season.

Trees can reduce erosion of precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. Furthermore, trees are a renewable resource providing paper, wood for homes, fuel for fires, and countless other wood products.

SAPLINGS PLANTED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY FOR ARBOR DAY AND SERVICE MEMBERS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
From Left to Right: American Forests Chief Executive Officer Scott Sheen, Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, and cemetery arborist Stephen Van Hoven place soil around a ribbon-laden sapling at the end of an Arbor Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, April 27, 2012. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk

Arlington National Cemetery Plants Saplings to Honor Troops
By Terri Moon Cronk
ARLINGTON, Va., April 27, 2012 - In honor of Arbor Day and to pay respects to U.S. service members, officials planted five oak tree saplings at Arlington National Cemetery here today.

saplings were grown from acorns taken from the renowned "Arlington Oak," a 220-year-old tree that was felled by Hurricane Irene in August 2011. The old oak tree stood in the area of the cemetery's Kennedy family burial site. Several years ago, the nonprofit American Forests organization collected acorns from the old oak and grew the saplings.

Three of the saplings were planted near the Kennedy family gravesite. Of the remaining two saplings, one was planted in section 26, near the old amphitheater and the other in section 36, near Custis Walk.

"On this ground we have the opportunity to re-establish a lost national landmark with its very own offspring," said keynote speaker Katherine Hammack, the assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment. "We can do this because Arlington National Cemetery and American Forests had foresight. They collected acorns from that landmark tree next to President [John F.] Kennedy's gravesite to prepare for an inevitable future."

Cemetery historian Tom Sherlock said when President Kennedy visited Arlington House in the spring of 1963, the Arlington oak was prominent in his view as he looked down upon Washington, D.C.

Kennedy said he was taken with the "magnificent" view, Sherlock said, noting the president also remarked that he "could stay there forever." That area near the tree was later chosen as Kennedy's burial site.

Today, a single oak sapling where the old tree once stood also represents a tribute to U.S. service members, Hammack said.

"When we were planning today's ceremony, the 1973 song, 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree' came to mind," she said. "We have lost the old oak tree of a 220-year legacy, but we have an opportunity to tie a yellow ribbon around the young oak tree."
Arlington cemetery's saplings, Hammack said, remind Americans "of those men and women who are serving in harm's way" to protect the nation.
"On behalf of a grateful nation and the U.S. Army, this serves as a welcome home to all service men and women," she said.

Hammack then tied a yellow ribbon around the young tree.