Hanscom celebrates Arbor Day, Tree City USA distinction

  • Published
  • By 66th Civil Engineering Division
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  On April 29 base officials and Hanscom Middle School students planted a Pear tree along Eglin Street in celebration of Arbor Day.

The location continued previous year's efforts to transform Eglin Street into a tree-lined avenue. The trees provide shade, color and numerous environmental benefits to the area.

Trees on base help clean the air, conserve soil, moderate temperature and bring nature into a person's daily life. It also brings awareness to the dangers and long-term damage deforestation can have.

By understanding and appreciating the role trees have in the environment, CE officials said people will begin to realize the importance of Arbor Day.

During the tree planting ceremony, Col. David R. Dunklee, installation commander, read and signed an Arbor Day proclamation and discussed with the students the importance of trees in the environment.  Dunklee also announced that the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Hanscom's commitment to urban forestry by naming the base a Tree City USA community for the 29th consecutive year.

To qualify as a Tree City USA community, you must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive forestry program and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Thanks to the efforts of Hanscom Civil Engineering, the base has met these standards for the past 29 years.

Hanscom Civil Engineer Tom Schluckebier said, "I'm very proud of this achievement and the fact that Hanscom shares the Air Force record with Offutt Air Force Base [Nebraska] for the most consecutive years as a Tree City USA base."

For more information about Arbor Day or the Tree City USA program, visit www.arborday.org or contact base civil engineers at 781-225-6040.