The Professional Landcare Network announced that registration is strong for the upcoming “Renewal & Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery and Historic Congressional Cemetery” on Monday, July 24, 2006, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Hundreds of lawn care, landscape, and tree specialists from across the nation will bring their crews to Arlington National and Historic Congressional cemeteries to spend the day mulching, cabling trees with lightening protection, pruning, liming, planting, and aerating, as well as installing an irrigation system at Arlington National Cemetery. This gift of time and service is valued at more than $250,000 in services and work.
Many of PLANET’s members volunteer annually for this event, because they feel a special connection to these national historic landmarks. When PLANET member Bob Dodson heard about the event, he immediately signed on.
“I was in the Army and did one tour in Vietnam,” Dodson says. “This is a great opportunity for me to lend my skills and to volunteer at Arlington National Cemetery. My friends and colleagues are buried there,” he adds.
Also working with Bob will be Jim Barrett, who was in the Navy and did two tours in Vietnam, the last as Swift Boat OIC when John Kerry was there.
Bob Dolibois, the chief staff executive of the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) will also participate in the event. He is a Navy veteran who made destroyer deployments to the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War.
“It is an honor for ANLA to be contributing landscape plants and for me to be involved," he says. "Arlington is a special place and the landscaping is a part of it.”
The event, now in it’s 10th year, has contributed more than $1 million in services to Arlington National Cemetery and Historic Congressional Cemetery.
“This is the most significant project that PLANET will carry out this year,” notes Phil Fogarty, PLANET member and organizer of the event. “The natural beauty and quiet grace of these cemeteries make them places that we feel compelled to take care of and protect. This extremely worthwhile, meaningful project demonstrates our honor and remembrance of America’s veterans and leaders.”
On Tuesday, July 25, PLANET members will visit their congressional leaders on Capitol Hill and speak with them about issues facing the green industry, including the immigration bill.
PLANET represents approximately 4, 400 green industry service-provider companies and suppliers nationwide that specialize in lawn care, design/build/installation, interior plantscaping, and landscape management. These firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals. For more information, call PLANET at 800/395-2522 or visit landcarenetwork.org.