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Residents celebrate Arbor Day |
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
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Staff photo/Mike Burkholder
Katie Lucas, 5, right, the daughter of Jerry and Jen Lucas of St. Marys, shovels dirt onto a tree planted in honor of former St. Marys Mayor Norman Opperman as TLC co-owner Traci Lauth looks on. The tree was planted as part of the 18th annual Arbor Day Celebration sponsored by the city of St. Marys Tree Commission.
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
ST. MARYS — Dozens of residents from around the area Friday gathered at K.C. Geiger Park to take part in an annual city tradition.
The families of David Meyer, Norman Opperman, Roger Leffel and Don Harris planted four trees at the park as part of the 18th annual Arbor Days Celebration, sponsored by the city of St Marys Tree Commission. The annual event provides families a chance to plant a young sapling in honor of a deceased loved one.
"We have the intention of filling the area in with trees," Tree commission member John Meyer told the crowd. "That's what Arbor Day is all about."
The city marks Arbor Day — the last Friday in April in Ohio — with the memorial tree planting. Each of the families got the opportunity to select a tree to be planted in the park as well as a plaque that showed the name of the deceased, the year the tree was planted and the species.
"This is a great way to remember them," Meyer said of the trees. "It's something that will last forever. It's a tradition here and it's a special day."
Meyer said the city has been allowing memorial trees to be planted for the past 18 years. Due to the number of trees planted during that span, the city had to create a new space for the dedication ceremony.
"This is phase two," Meyer said. "We have 16 trees planted here but in the other area we have over 70 trees with over 50 different species."
Students from TLC Learning and Child Care Center in St. Marys also attended the event as a way to learn about Arbor Day. Meyer said including the youngsters in the program should be beneficial to the city as well as the students.
"It is especially important to get the little kids involved," Meyer said. "This is something they will remember for their entire lives."
TLC co-owner Traci Lauth said she brought the students to the event following a discussion on Arbor Day. The students also were part of the dedication ceremony.
"We dedicated a tree to Norman Opperman," Lauth said. "He (Opperman) would always visit the daycare."
The following is a list individuals who had trees dedicated in their honor:
• David Meyer, died in 1981 in a car crash. A prairifire crabapple was planted in his honor.
• Norman Opperman, died in 2007. Opperman, known as "Grandpa Dad," was a former mayor of the city of St. Marys. A buckeye tree was planted in his honor.
• Roger Leffel, died in 2007. Leffel was a farmer for 63 years. A red maple tree was planted in his honor.
• Don Harris, died in 2007. Harris was a farmer and a member of the Pantry Pride Coffee Club. A red maple tree was planted in his honor. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 April 2008 )
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