Base plants trees for Arbor Day

Recognizing Arbor Day

Lt. Col. Craig Biondo, 21st Mission Support Group deputy commander, and a girl from the Child Development Center, work together to plant a tree April 22 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Peterson is one of more than 3,000 “Tree Cities” in the U.S., an honor given to cities with tree planting and management programs. This is Peterson's 14th consecutive Tree City USA award and seventh consecutive Growth Award for increasing the number and density of trees on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rob Bussard)

Recognizing Arbor Day

Col. Jay Raymond, 21st Space Wing commander, helps kids from the Child Development Center fill in the hole around a freshly-planted blue spruce April 22 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Base leadership and the children planted three trees in honor of Arbor Day. This is Peterson's 14th consecutive Tree City USA award and seventh consecutive Growth Award for increasing the number and density of trees on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rob Bussard)

Recognizing Arbor Day

Lt. Col. Craig Biondo, 21st Mission Support Group deputy commander, helps a boy plant a blue spruce outside the bioenvironmental engineering building in honor of Arbor Day April 22 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Peterson is one of more than 3,000 “Tree Cities” in the U.S., an honor given to cities with tree planting and management programs. This is the base's 14th consecutive Tree City USA award and seventh consecutive Growth Award for increasing the number and density of trees on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rob Bussard)

Published April 28, 2008
By Corey Dahl
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Base leaders, kids from the Child Development Center and even Smokey Bear got down and dirty in honor of Arbor Day April 22.

To celebrate the tree-planting holiday, dozens gathered at the base bioenvironmental engineering building to plant three blue spruces on the newly-remodeled lot. They also watched as Col. Jay Raymond, 21st Space Wing commander, accepted the base's 14th consecutive Tree City USA award and seventh consecutive Growth Award for increasing the number and density of trees on base.

"These awards are symbolic of the combined efforts of many people over many years, and you can see the fruits of their labor," Colonel Raymond told the crowd. "You look around Peterson, and the beauty you see is largely because of all the mature trees we have here."

Peterson is one of more than 3,000 Tree Cities in the U.S. The award is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and recognizes communities that have viable tree management plans and programs.

The foundation has also organized the nation's annual Arbor Day observance since 1972. The holiday, which was originally established in 1872 by a Nebraska newspaper editor who advocated planting trees on the barren plains, is celebrated on the last Friday in April and encourages tree planting and care.

Arbor Day, the Tree City program and Peterson's efforts are so important because trees are beneficial to everyone - now and for years to come, said Naomi Marcus, assistant district forester with the Colorado State Forest Service.

"Trees provide shade, improve aesthetics, create recreation opportunities - what kid doesn't like playing around a tree? - and they sequester carbon, which offsets global warming," Ms. Marcus said. "And, when you plant a tree, it's not only there for this generation but for future generations."