Rehoboth Elementary students plant trees in honor of Arbor Day
REHOBOTH BEACH, De. – Arbor Day is celebrated annually on April 17th. For over 30 years in Delaware, a tree planting ceremony has taken place, and this time local 5th graders helped out.
Power of Trees
Principal Doris Person kicked off the Tree planting ceremony introducing guest speakers, the Arbor Day Band, and sharing the reason everyone gathered. “We are here to celebrate the power of trees and the beauty they bring to our world”
Delaware Forest Service Training and Education specialist Ashley Melvin says Rehoboth Elementary has been a great planting partner over the years, and these efforts aren’t just for today, but for the future. “We should continue to plant trees wherever we can for fresh oxygen, shade, recreation, it gives families a place to congregate under.”
Trees are Essential
Delaware Forest Service’s poster contest was entitled: “Trees are terrific… and color our world”. The winners were recognized by the Rehoboth Art League. First place winner Rowan Rosero says she was inspired by the colors of the earth, and that trees are essential.
“All of these little pieces in the art are like places I’ve been. Like the lake is for when I went to New York to see my aunt… Number one they give us oxygen; they make the oxygen fresh. and they give us supplies to make homes in.”
Important Life Form
Students got to roll up their sleeves to plant seedlings at their school grounds. 5th grader Caleb Williams-Baxley tells us trees are a very important to all of us, explaining the benefits.
“Trees are a really important life form in life, because they can help you in multiple ways like say tables, chairs, houses. Then also food. Trees are one of the most important things in the world because they’re the reason humans can breathe in the first place. and they’re the reason our atmosphere isn’t polluted.”
Trust Mother Nature
The City of Rehoboth Beach celebrates its 34th consecutive year as a Tree City USA. City Arborist Michael Lilly assists with permits for planting and tree removal, and says often times, we’re too quick to give up on Mother Nature.
“Somebody might think that a tree is dead, and that’s not really the case you know. It could have a disease, or it can be easily treated, and a lot of times people just don’t want to do that they rather cut down the tree.”
Something Lily says the city is aiming not to do. “Here in Rehoboth, we try to pride ourselves on keeping that green canopy, keeping wildlife in the city, and just over all shade.”
Tree City USA
And the City of Rehoboth plans to celebrate this for the next 30 years to come. “Now I therefore Mayor Stan Mills herby proclaim April 17th as Arbor Day in the City of Rehoboth Beach. I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day, and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands.”
Posters created by Rehoboth Elementary 4th and 5th grade students will be displayed in the atrium of City Hall beginning April 22nd, so be sure to go and check it out!
