Sixth annual Arbor Day Celebration

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Kocin
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Members of Team Holloman turned out to support the annual Arbor Day Celebration March 24 in Steinhoff Park at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The year's events marked the base's sixth year of participation. 

Col. Stephen DiFonzo, 49th Mission Support Group Commander, was on-hand to pour the first scoops of dirt for a new tree, which was planted to commemorate the annual event. 

The celebration's audience this year was the children from the Child Development Center on Holloman. 

"I think it's a great opportunity for the kids. It sets them up for a lifetime appreciation of natural things," said Mr. Lonnie Britton, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron, natural resource planter. 

A program called "Tree City USA" is available through the National Arbor Day Foundation. Holloman and its sister New Mexico bases - Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque and Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis - take part in the national program. 

According to information from the National Arbor Day Foundation, cities have to meet certain criteria to be called a "Tree City": there has to be a tree board or department, there must be an observance for Arbor Day and there has to be a tree care ordinance. 

"'Tree City' shows your dedication to trees and helps tie you to our larger state-wide urban forestry program to bring in funding and resources to take care of trees," said Mr. Lance Davisson, state urban forester. 

The value of planting and maintaining healthy trees is often misunderstood by many people because of poor education or erroneous information. 

"The value that trees bring is not recognized enough by people and how they make us feel, how they provide us shade, energy conservation and helps with erosion," Mr. Davisson said. "That's what we are trying to do in New Mexico: use these opportunities such as Arbor Day to celebrate trees and help people understand how valuable they are to bring into your home and community." 

The idea for Arbor Day, which means "Tree Day," first originated during the 1800s in Nebraska. The day was proposed by Nebraska pioneer, J. Sterling Morton, due to the state's lack of trees. He and his wife were lovers of nature and promoted the planting of trees regularly. 

Mr. Morton was a journalist and used this opportunity to spread agricultural information and advocate of tree planting in his editorials and articles. He became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, which also provided him an opportunity to stress the importance of trees. 

On Jan. 4, 1872, Mr. Morton first proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called "Arbor Day." 

Today, every state in the Union observes Arbor Day. The state of New Mexico observes Arbor Day the second Friday of March, while the most common date for the observances is the last Friday in April. Numerous U.S. presidents throughout the years have proclaimed a national Arbor Day on that date, but a number of state Arbor Days are at other times to coincide with the best tree planting weather.