Capitol Arbor Day

Lt. Governor Mike Foley, joined by students from St. Mary’s School, dignitaries from the Nebraska Forest Service, the Arbor Day Foundation, and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum planted a maple tree during the official Capitol Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony on the northwest lawn of the Capitol April 29, 2016. Office of the Capitol Commission Administrator Robert C. Ripley greeted those in attendance and welcomed them to the Capitol to celebrate Arbor Day. John Erixson, Deputy Director of the Nebraska Forest Service spoke of the many positive benefits of planting trees, including providing shade on a hot summer day and protecting our homes from cold winter winds. Erixson also reminded students that on the first Arbor Day Nebraskans planted over 1,000,000 trees and encouraged everyone to become involved with ReTree Nebraska, an effort to plant 1,000,000 trees by 2017 just in time to celebrate Nebraska’s sesquicentennial. Dan Lambe, President of the Arbor Day Foundation, reminded those assembled Arbor Day, Nebraska’s own holiday is now celebrated across the nation and around the world. He encouraged everyone to honor J. Sterling Morton’s vision of world made better by trees. Lt. Governor Foley told the students and others the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time to plant a tree is now. After reading Governor Pete Ricketts Arbor Day Proclamation, Lt. Governor Foley invited three of St. Mary’s youngest students to help him with the shovel.  Administrator Ripley invited the students to come back in 20 years to see how the tree planted today has grown. Arbor Day is a holiday which looks to the future and future generations of Nebraskans.