Honoring the Fallen With Saluting Branches Arborists tend to veteran properties and national cemeteries during ninth-annual event By Kelly May
On Sep. 20, ArborTIMES staff mem- bers joined tree care volunteers at the Tallahassee National Cemetery to participate in the ninth-annual Saluting Branches Day of Service. Even the weather cooperated, with a dry, sunny mid-80s day. ROOTED IN HONOR Established in 2015, Saluting Branches was started by Rainbow Treecare and Minnesota arborists who wanted to
honor veterans by volunteering their time providing tree care services at veteran properties and national cem- eteries. Due to the event’s overwhelming success, Saluting Branches expand- ed its nonprofit program nation- wide. Today, it is the largest one- day volunteer event in the tree care industry. In 2022, more than 3,000 volunteers tended to 83 trees on veteran properties, donating more
than $3 million in services.
“We developed Saluting Branches as a green industry project to honor veterans and improve the environ- ment through the science of tree care,” Saluting Branches president Brian Bruce said in a press release. “This is an important event for the arborist community and allows us to give back to those who have served us.” Volunteer Impact in 2023 Date: Typically held in late September Participants: 3,950 Volunteer value: $4 million Locations: 100 sites in 49 states, Puerto Rico, & Mexico
A crew from Miller's Tree Service uses a mini lift to remove trees damaged by hurricane Idalia.
46 | ArborTIMES Fall 2023
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