Trees Will Honor The Troops
American Forests has committed to plant 1.5 million trees as part of their Liberty Tree Forests campaign to honor every man and woman in active service.
Planted in selected ecosystem restoration projects designated as Liberty Tree Forests, each tree will be planted to honor an individual active duty service person. Currently, there are over 1,384,000 military personnel, and the number increases daily.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation will distribute a “Thank You for Serving” letter and a special certificate acknowledging each Liberty Tree to our service personnel.
Planting a Liberty Tree is a time-honored tradition. The trees have stood as symbols of freedom since colonial times. Early patriots designated a tree in every colony as a Liberty Tree until British troops, recognizing the symbolism of the Liberty Trees, cut them down to undermine morale.
After the Revolutionary War, only a few trees remained, but the spirit of freedom continued through these remaining trees. In 1999, the last surviving Liberty Tree, in Annapolis, Maryland succumbed to Hurricane Floyd. Today, American Forests is growing seedlings from this tree.
In the spring of 2002 at VFW National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., American Forests and the VFW Foundation announced a partnership to plant Liberty Trees as symbols of patriotism and freedom.
Citizens interested in helping to donate towards the Liberty Tree Forests campaign can contact Rachel Brittin at 202-955-4500, ext. 234 for more information or visit www.libertytreeforests.org.
American Forests, founded in 1875, is the oldest national nonprofit citizen conservation organization. Its three Centers — Global ReLeaf, Urban Forest, and Forest Policy — mobilize people around the world to improve the environment by planting and caring for trees.