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Warren, 27th consecutive year tree supporter

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Malcolm Mayfield
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The 90th Civil Engineer Squadron and Balfour Beatty Communities teamed up to plant a tree on base, June 24, 2015, for this year's Arbor Day.

Trees clean the air and provide oxygen to the habitat for wildlife. On the 143rd anniversary of Arbor Day, Warren continued to display its enthusiasm during its 27th consecutive year of participation in the Tree City USA program.

"Tree City is a national program through the Arbor Day program," said Molly O'Liddy, Wyoming State Forestry Division community resources forester. "We educate the community and the children [about the environment], showing them how to plant trees and care for them. It's important to have trees in the community and to maintain them correctly."

The Wyoming State Forestry Division representative provided support and education during the event in collaboration with the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron.

"This is important and helpful to the Wyoming environment," said Andy McKinley, 90th CES Environmental Element chief. "Trees really help us out; this reaffirms the bases commitment to the environment."

Four criteria must be met for a community to be called a Tree City, USA; they must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

F.E. Warren meets all of these standards. At the event, Col. Ronald Allen, 90th Missile Wing vice commander, read a proclamation explaining the importance of trees and F.E. Warren's dedication to support their propagation, which satisfied the proclamation criterion.

"Trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and beautify our community," Allen said. "I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support the efforts to protect our trees and woodlands."