USA: Arbor Day, 2021!

Author’s Note: Prologue

Arbor Day isn’t observed this year until tomorrow, April 30, 2021. However, that presents a conflict here on ReNude Pride as that is the last day of the month, dedicated for the Bottoms-Up! series. For that reason, the Arbor Day posting is being published today.

“We inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees!”

The above quotation is directly from the Arbor Day website and it best summarizes the purpose of this observance, the restoration of forests and trees, as an essential aspect of our natural resources. For far too long, the expansion and growth of this country led to a serious depletion of this very important resource that created the need for a public campaign for replenishment.

The Arbor Day Foundation was organized in 1972 – the centennial year of the very first Arbor Day observance. J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraska newspaper editor had a love of nature and especially all types of trees. When he became the Secretary of the Nebraska Territory (prior to statehood), he proposed a territorial tree-planting holiday – to be called “Arbor Day” – to the Board of Agriculture on January 4, 1872. It was approved by a majority and the very first event was held on April 10, 1872. This resulted in thousands of trees being planted within the territory that first year.

The celebration quickly grew in popularity and soon other USA states and territories started their won observances. Although it was never adapted as a public holiday, it did spark widespread interest throughout the country. Today, there are a number of forests identified by elaborate signage crediting their existence to voluntary Arbor Day planters.

I do remember every year during primary (elementary) school our entire student body assembling on the school lawn for our headmaster to plant a new tree on Arbor Day. Within my school, once the planting was over, the remainder of the afternoon was a field day of games and competitions.

Many localities are now combining Arbor Day activities and Earth Day programs into a combined celebration or event. Both festivities are focused on our environment and preserving our natural surroundings so sponsoring the two together helps to make our world a better place for all of us!

Happy Arbor Day!

Take care and stay bare!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next planned post entry here on ReNude Pride is for tomorrow, Friday, April 30, 2021, and the proposed topic is “Bottoms-Up! April, 2021.”