A Dream

Honoring Those Serving Our Country, By Marde McConnell

The Washington Tree Beautification Committee has been in existence for over 18 years. As expected, there have been many, many projects over those years. As I think back, however, one year and one set of projects especially comes to mind. I’d like to share that experience with you.

The year was 1990 and the month was September. Our tree committee was “gearing up,” in other words we were beginning our planning for our 1991 spring tree planting projects. The group decided to have our annual tree giveaway and a target street or streets. The target street was always a highly-visible, city street or streets where we’d work hard to replant the area with trees. The group decided that the 1991 target street would be the long, main east/west thoroughfare through town, Highway 92.

We were pleased with our street selection and were anxious to get organized. This meant that in the fall committee members would begin contacting the affected homeowners about possible participation, the tree selections would be made and our tree order would be placed.

Well, during that time the citizens of Washington were emotionally hurting. Our country was involved in Operation Desert Storm and Washington’s National Guard unit had been notified they were to be activated in a month or two for a tour of duty to Saudi Arabia. Additionally, our local reserve unit had already been sent to Washington State to replace a unit being sent overseas. Most everyone in Washington knew someone who had been or was going to be separated from their loved ones, and of course, we all felt their pain. The entire community had great concern for the safety of our local personnel and for all those military service men and women representing our country. Everyone felt helpless and that’s how our story begins.

We were having our monthly tree committee meeting discussing our Highway 92 target street when one member made an off-handed comment, “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could plant trees at the National Guard Armory site. It’s so bare and it would be a wonderful way to honor all our military folks who will be leaving their families soon to go overseas.” By the way, the Armory site was located at the far west end of our target street and was a large, nearly bare, green space surrounding a brick building. Due to all the anticipated government red tape, we assumed there was little hope this project could become a reality. However, one committee member agreed to try to make a few phone calls concerning this possible National Guard Armory project.

While the local Armory contact person was enthusiastic about this tree beautification project at their site, he needed to contact the “higher ups.” We had to create a design plan for them to approve, which we did. This planting plan was later shown to all the necessary military personnel and each surprisingly approved of our plan. We were in business! All that was left was to order the trees except our committee decided that wasn’t enough! We wanted to expand this tree planting project to honor all our local military soldiers. We again created a plan and gained permission to plant trees at the Army Reserve Building in the north part of town, which was also a fairly bare, green space. Additionally, we even committed to planting a few trees in both our cemeteries to honor our fallen soldiers.

That’s how one small incidental comment had grown into a huge tree planting project of over 100 trees! The community had been hurting and feeling very helpless. Now it had a way to honor our military soldiers and their loved ones. We received financial support from Trees Forever and our community donors, as well as great assistance on the actual tree planting from wonderful community volunteers. While our spring planting day was a cold and rainy one that we’ll never forget, our spirits were not dampened! It was a time of great joy as the many, many volunteers worked together early one Saturday morning planting over 100 trees as a way to honor those who were representing or had ever represented our great country.

This tree planting project not only recognized our military personnel and their families but it also helped to beautify a couple of very bare green spaces in Washington. Now those entrances are inviting park-like settings, welcoming folks to Washington.

I think our committee learned a great deal from this extensive project involving tree planting at the National Guard Armory, the Army Reserve Building, and our two local cemeteries. The project was an example of the importance of having a dream and the need to have the courage, persistence and patience to try to carry out that dream. Sometimes we limit ourselves by assuming a project won’t work. We learned to believe in ourselves and were reminded that other people can be excited about tree planting projects too, as evidenced by the enthusiasm of the military personnel and the volunteerism of the community of Washington.

Today those formerly bare sites continue to beautify Washington with their lovely trees and we are reminded that their vision began with an incidental comment that became a dream.