A national holiday that has often been overlooked is Arbor Day. Before Earth Day, Arbor Day served as a reminder of the importance of environmental care. Both occur in spring, symbolizing renewal. A common Arbor Day practice is to plant a tree to honor or remember someone.
THE START
The first US Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska in 1872. One MILLION trees were planted! By 1885 it was a legal holiday in Nebraska and other states were following. Within 20 years many states were encouraging participation. In 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt issued an ‘Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States” but he did not declare it a national holiday.
CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL
On its centennial April 24, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the proclamation making it a national holiday. It is celebrated on the last Friday of April, though some states choose different dates based on their planting season. To see when your state celebrates a link is included at the end.
Nebraska celebrates April 22nd annually to honor Arbor Day’s founder’s birthday. Julius Sterling Morton was a journalist and politician who served as Nebraska Territory’s governor and the US Secretary of Agriculture. He used his newspaper and his positions to spread his message. But first he began an adventure with a new bride in Nebraska territory.
HOMESTEADING ON THE PRAIRE
In 1854 Julius Sterling Morton and his bride Caroline Joy moved to Nebraska territory. They discovered their 160-arce homestead was treeless. They began planting all kinds of trees and encouraging others to do so too. His enthusiasm for trees sparked a movement that transformed America’s landscape.
FROM NEBRASKA TO MELBOURNE
Mr. Morton promoted the planting of trees in the 19th and 20th century. The leaders of Melbourne, Australia used technology of the 21st century to keep their trees healthy. Email addresses were assigned to 70,000 trees. The city created the address’ for the public to report dangerous situations. If seeing a dangling limb or a sickly tree the city could be easily alerted to handle the problem. People did so but some also used it to send messages to their favorite tree. They sent emails showing gratitude and sharing their dreams. The city started having city workers respond. As word spread people from around the world began to correspond with the Australia trees.
INSPIRATION FOR US ALL
Trees contribute positively to human health and the environment. Trees produce fruit, nuts, and medicines humans rely on. Research has shown that improving air quality, reducing pollution, and providing oxygen can have health benefits. Individuals in regions with dense tree canopies show lower rates of asthma, heart attacks and strokes. Trees beautify our communities, contributing to a more active lifestyle for residents and reducing stress levels among individuals.
STAYING CONNECTED
People need trees and people need people. Stay connected with both trees and your friends and family this spring. Schedule some time together to walk among the trees. If time and distance make that impossible, you can still connect. Use your favorite form of technology and communicate via snail mail too. It’s uplifting to see familiar handwriting in a pile of mail. If writing a full letter is awkward, send a card.
Building and strengthening relationships starts with communication. We are fortunate to have a variety of ways to do so. Maybe you can both plant a tree in remembrance and make the world a better place for all. Get out and enjoy spring and don’t forget to write to the people you care about.
The original article that sent me on my quest to learn more…thanks brother Bill!
Paper Crafted Bliss 