The Arkansas Agriculture Departments Forestry Commission has announced it will donate a two-year old willow oak for a World War I tree planting ceremony on Friday morning at 10:00 in Cotter. The tree planting ceremony will be held at the North Arkansas Youth Center, located at 412 Powell Avenue, and will commemorate the centennial anniversary of World War I.
Expected guests include Rick Wright, who will provide remarks about his uncle, Major Frank D. Ruggles, who served in World War I. Community leaders and other officials will also participate, and the Cotter High School Band will perform the national anthem. Kenny Smothers with the Arkansas Forestry Commission will assist with the memorial tree planting and provide information about proper tree care and maintenance.
Following the World War I tree planting ceremony, Tree City Cotter will celebrate its own Arbor Day tree planting.
The ceremonies are sponsored by Tree City USA, a nationwide program of the Arbor Day Foundation. More than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA. Cities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
More information can be found online at www.arborday.org.
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