here you have...

... more than you ever wanted to know about Arbor Day. Due mostly to my being assigned to give a thirty second talk at a meeting today. A year or so ago, due to not having my plate overloaded with volunteer activities, I took up a position with a local environmental organization. I got myself officially sworn in as a board member of Keep Columbus Beautiful last August, and have been actively involved in a number of community wide events. Participating in various programs to promote awareness about litter, water preservation, recycling, efforts to keep the community clean and safe for man and beast.

The first board meeting kicking off a calendar full of opportunities for involvement occurred today. I was volunteered to share a little info. about Arbor Day. Here is what I discovered: for your edification when you find yourself inveigled in the next trivia competition. The name comes from the Latin word for 'tree', and was begun in Nebraska by a Mr. J. Sterling Morton, who was the editor of a local newspaper (a perfect bully pulpit for espousing any cause, right?) He and his wife bought 160 acres of land in very flat, nearly treeless Nebraska City, and decided to plant trees. According to Wikipedia, nearly one million were planted, though there was no time frame given for this forest-full of saplings to have appeared. He was also influential in promoting Arbor Day in Europe and Australia.

Now you need to be aware of something positive about President Richard Nixon. I know: a sad case, with not much good to glean from his time as our leader. But he did:ensure the passage of The Clean Air Act, The Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act. And signed the bill that created the Environmental Protection Agency. Sadly, most of these new laws came into being as a result of thousands of people participating in hundreds of protests about damage being done to the land, water and air we all depend on. Nixon also declared the first Earth Day in 1970, with that particular date of April 22 being the birth date of Mr. Morton- everything that goes around comes around, right?

Morton died in 1902. His life and legacy are commemorated with a statue  in Washington, D.C., dedicated to the 'Father of Arbor Day' in the National Hall of Fame. I am sure he lead a much more interesting life, with ample details of his upstanding citizenry, and various calls to action published to inflame the population of Nebraska City, NE. That is for you to google up on your own...