EVENT: Arbor Day Tree Planting to replace lost "Arlington Oak"
WHAT: Arbor Day Tree Sapling Planting
WHEN: Friday, April 27, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Near JFK gravesite
In celebration of Arbor Day, Arlington National Cemetery will conduct a ceremony to plant a tree sapling descendent from its "Arlington Oak," the 220-year-old post oak tree which once stood near the John F. Kennedy gravesite. The tree fell during Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
Several years ago, American Forests, a non-profit conservation organization, collected acorns from the tree and grew saplings. The organization donated five saplings to Arlington earlier this year. These five saplings will be planted around the cemetery - one in section 36 near the Custis Walk, one in section 26 near the Old Amphitheater, and three saplings near the Kennedy gravesites.
During this ceremony, Arlington will plant the final sapling near the Kennedy gravesites (all other saplings will be planted prior to the ceremony).
Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment and Scott Steen, CEO, American Forests, will each provide remarks during the ceremony.