It was sweltering hot on July 16 as 400 volunteers headed to Arlington National Cemetery, and Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery for the 22nd Renewal & Remembrance volunteer day of service.
After the opening ceremony with remarks by industry veterans Jeff Buhler, National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) president, John Eggleston, event chair, and Tom Shotzbarger, dedication speaker, volunteers from across the nation, both first-timers and long-time volunteers, fanned out and completed the work, including:
- Aerating 108 acres.
- Liming 5 acres.
- Distributing phosphorus on 46 acres.
- Installing lightning protection on four trees.
- Three irrigation projects.
- Building one large retaining wall.
- Planting 300 annuals and 15 shrubs, which was done by the children, at the Mast of the Maine memorial.
Special thanks go to Eggleston, and to the Renewal and Remembrance committee and champions who spent hours, days and weeks planning and coordinating, assigning teams, planning and delivering equipment, managing safety and transportation, not to mention the hydration teams. The NALP says it couldn’t do it without their support: “We were there for one day, but those projects will last for decades to come! We’ll done, everyone.”
The NALP thanks all its sponsors for their support, especially Platinum Sponsors Caterpillar, John Deere and New Holland, plus the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance and the Professional Grounds Management Society.
