Photo By Capt. Maria Castle | Keith Brumley, Lt. Col. David Novy, and Mark McCoy conclude the Arbor Day...... read more read more
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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - Earth Week 2014 at Scott Air Force Base was celebrated April 21-25, and several activities were held base-wide, including an electronic recycling day, planting a ceremonial tree, and an Arbor Day proclamation reading.
Lt. Col. Beth Graboritz, 375th Mission Support Group deputy commander, presided over the tree ceremony at the Scott Club April 25.
"This year is the 142nd anniversary of Arbor Day, which is now observed throughout the world," she said. "Trees can reduce the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. Trees are a renewable resource, providing us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and beautify our community."
The ceremony marked 22 years of this tradition as part of the Tree City USA recognition. The Tree City USA award is received for excelling in education, partnership, planning, management and tree planting and is received by meeting four criteria: having a tree board or department, a community tree ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and lastly have an Arbor Day observance to include reading the proclamation.
Mark McCoy, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental engineer, said the purpose of this event was to celebrate Arbor Day, which began in Nebraska in 1872, with the planting of more than a million trees.
"Every year, on the last Friday in April, everyone is supposed to plant a tree," he said. "The base has been designated a Tree City USA community for the past 21 years, for its commitment to the environment by the Arbor Day Foundation."
McCoy said the goal of Earth Week and Arbor Day is to raise awareness on issues relating to the health and welfare of the planet, including the importance of planting trees.
"Take the time to think about what Earth Week means, and possibly plant a tree. Society's been cutting trees down all the time. Trees are there to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce oxygen. They provide shade and a home for the birds. This is why you should plant a tree."
Leadership at the base encourages everyone to celebrate Arbor Day and support efforts to protect trees and woodlands, and plant trees to promote the well-being of this and future generations.
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2014 15:50 |
| Story ID: | 128445 |
| Location: | SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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