ANDERSONVILLE — Saluting Branches: Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance is an opportunity for tree care professionals throughout the country to unite and do what arborists do best – provide exceptional tree care – to keep our veterans’ cemeteries safe, beautiful places for all those who visit.
On Sept. 23,  over 1,000 arborists and tree care professionals from across the country were to unite to provide volunteer tree care services at 27 veteran cemeteries, 23 of which are Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries. Andersonville National H storic Site is onf the cemeteries that will benefit from this service. Opening ceremonies were to  take place from 8-8:30 a.m. Tree work was to begin immediately after, with climbers ascending trees and ground crew members hauling and disposing of debris. Tree work was to continue in the cemetery until 3 p.m.
“Coming from a family of veterans I appreciate the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform. I’d love to be able to use my skills and passion for tree work to give back,” said Aaron Danforth of Portland’s Arbor Solutions Tree Care LLC.
Ronald Veltre, of Broken Branch Tree Care in Ohio, expressed similar feelings. “We would be honored to show our appreciation for what they sacrificed for our country.”
This project began in the Midwest where Rainbow Treecare, along with fellow members of the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture, had been providing a Day of Service at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. After speaking with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Rainbow Treecare learned there are many national cemeteries around the country which do not have professional arborists inspecting and caring for their trees. Millions of families and loved ones visit our national shrines to pay their respects to our honored dead and the goal of Saluting Branches is to assist in providing a safe and beautiful environment for these visitors.
For a list of company sponsors, agenda for the day of service and other details, visit: www.SalutingBranches.org