The City of Washington Court House recently proclaimed April 29 as Arbor Day and celebrated the occasion by planting a tree at ABC Pediatrics.
The proclamation from the city, signed by council member Ted Hawk and City Manager Joe Denen, explained that Arbor Day was set aside for the planting of trees. The city, which has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for years, desires to continue its tree-planting ways. Knowing that trees can reduce the erosion of topsoil, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide a habitat for wildlife, the city proclaimed April 29 as Arbor Day.
The proclamation urges all citizens to celebrate the occasion and to support efforts to protect trees and woodlands. Additionally, it states that all citizens are urged to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.
This year the Arbor Day Celebration for the city was held at ABC Pediatrics, Dr. Fitton’s office. A London Plane Tree was planted by members of the tree committee and the wonderful staff and their children from ABC Pediatrics. This marks the 28th year for Washington C.H. being designated a Tree City USA.
“The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), a Nebraska journalist and politician originally from Michigan,” arbor-day.net reads. “Throughout his long and productive career, Morton worked to improve agricultural techniques in his adopted state and throughout the United States when he served as President Grover Cleveland’s Secretary of Agriculture. But his most important legacy is Arbor Day.”
According to the website, Morton felt that Nebraska would benefit from the wide-scale planting of trees. He set an example for his neighbors by planting orchards, shade trees and wind breaks on his farm. His real opportunity arrived when he became a member of Nebraska’s state board of agriculture. He proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and increasing awareness on the importance of trees. The website states that the first Arbor Day was a huge success with more than one million trees being planted.
“Today all 50 states celebrate Arbor Day although the dates may vary in keeping with the local climate,” the website continues. “At the federal level, in 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day. Arbor Day is also now celebrated in other countries including Australia. Variations are celebrated as ‘Greening Week’ of Japan, ‘The New Year’s Days of Trees’ in Israel, ‘The Tree-loving Week’ of Korea, ‘The Reforestation Week’ of Yugoslavia, ‘The Students’ Afforestation Day’ of Iceland and ‘The National Festival of Tree Planting’ in India.”
For more information on Arbor Day, visit arbor-day.net.
