Plant a tree for Arbor Day Larry Edmond Signal editor

Photos by Bonnie Heater U.S. Army Signal Center students assemble under a spreading oak tree outside of Hazen Hall Feb. 17.

Fort Gordon is celebrating Arbor Day with a tree planting ceremony 11 a.m. today at Heritage Park.

Trees are a vital part of the world ecology. Early 20th century thinker, Elton Trueblood said, "A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit."

Many poets, writers, philosophers, naturalists and average individuals have stood to acknowledge the relationship between humanity and trees.

Arbor Day is a day that encourages everyone to recognize their value and to plant a tree.

While National Arbor Day is held on the last Friday in April, Georgia, similar to several other states, observes the holiday at a time best suited for tree planting.

The Arbor Day Foundation Web site www.arborday.org offers many helpful tips from how to plant a tree to selecting the right tree for the right place.

Fort Gordon is recognized as one of the Tree City USA Communities for dedication to protecting and nurturing trees like the pine above. Thousands of trees dot the landscape across the installation.

Fort Gordon is recognized as one of Georgia's 119 Tree City USA communities. Tree City USA is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. The program was established to recognize communities that are committed to its trees. More than 120 million Americans live in a Tree City USA community.

The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, thanks to a resolution proposed by Nebraska City, Neb., resident Sterling Morton. Morton, a civic leader, agriculturist, and former newspaper editor, urged Nebraskans to "set aside one day to plant trees, both forest and fruit." The tree-planting holiday was so popular that by 1920, more than 45 states and U.S. territories annually celebrated Arbor Day. Today, Arbor Day is observed in all 50 states and in many countries around the world.

The live oak, Quercus Virginiana, was adopted as Georgia's state tree in 1937 at the request of the Edmund Burke Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The USS Constitution, better known as "Old Ironsides," earned its nickname from the hull made out of the famously hard live oak wood and was known for repelling British cannonballs. The famous oak has also been voted as America's National Tree.

More information on the Foundation and its programs or ways to celebrate Arbor Day can be found at the Website, www.arborday.org.

The best friend of earth of man is the tree. When we use the tree respectfully and economically, we have one of the greatest resources on the earth.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.

Rabindranath Tagor

We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees.

Chief Edward Moody, Qwatsinas, Nuxalk Nation