Sycamore Lane Elementary School students and staff with the City of Laurinburg recently plane a tree in observance of Arbor Day.
Students at Sycamore Lane Elementary School students prepare the ground for the planting of a tree in honor of Arbor Day.
LAURINBURG — Sycamore Lane Elementary School third graders and the City of Laurinburg recently celebrated Arbor Day about a week after the holiday is recognized nationally.
As Mayor Jim Willis explained, “Arbor Day is actually April 28, but due to some bad weather, we decided to postpone it until today. I officially declare today is Arbor Day in Laurinburg, North Carolina.”
Prior to his official declaration, the mayor had schooled the students on the first Arbor Day Celebration held in Nebraska in 1872. He and Community Development Director Walker McCoy then quizzed the students on the importance of trees and handed out pencils for correct answers.
Students were told that Laurinburg has been a Tree City USA — an official designation from the Arbor Day Foundation — for 43 years. Only two or three cities have had that designation longer than Laurinburg. Students were also informed of Laurinburg’s free tree planting program for city residents that occur each year in the fall.
Next, it was time for tree planting. With help from city workers, excited groups of third graders helped dig the hole, prepare the tree for planting, fill the hole back in, and mulch and water their new redbud tree. Walker McCoy narrated each step of the process, so students understood the correct way to plant a tree.
With the new tree in place, the ceremony ended with cake and juice for all served by Angela Taylor of the city’s Beautification department.
Arbor Day History
According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, Arbor Day was officially proclaimed in 1874 by Nebraska’s Governor, Robert W. Furnas, and the day was observed April 10 that year. In 1885, Arbor Day was named a legal state holiday in Nebraska, and April 22 was selected as the date for its permanent annual observance.
Many other states also passed legislation to observe Arbor Day each year. By 1920, more than 45 states and territories were celebrating Arbor Day. And the tree planting tradition became prominent in schools across the nation in 1882, with schoolchildren learning about the importance of trees as well as receiving a tree to plant in their own yard.