Tree Care Industry Honors Veterans

This Wednesday, more than 2,700 green industry professionals are donating a full day’s work to honor America’s military service men and women. Saluting Branches: Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance, a nonprofit organization, marks its fourth-annual day of service with the largest volunteer event in the tree care industry.

Millions of Americans pay their respects each year at national and state veterans’ cemeteries and properties. Saluting Branches brings together arborist experts to improve the beauty and safety of the trees located in these hallowed sites. With support by industry leaders; including Rainbow Treecare, ACRT, Inc., The Davey Tree Expert Company, STIHL®, SavATree, Petzl®, and others, Saluting Branches will be caring for thousands of trees at 51 VA national and state veterans cemeteries across the country this year.

“I’m a fourth-generation veteran and am honored to participate and say thank you to our country’s finest by providing them the beautiful resting places they deserve,” said volunteer Will B. Another Saluting Branches volunteer, Stephen D., feels it’s “…important to show our respect and support for America’s heroes by giving back in this very tangible way.”

Rainbow Treecare, located in Minnetonka, Minn., created the Saluting Branches Day of Service in 2015. Since its inception, thousands in the industry have joined together to donate an estimated $4.5 million in services at veterans’ properties across the U.S.

“We developed Saluting Branches as a green industry project to honor veterans and improve the environment through the science of tree care,” said Deb Peterson, Saluting Branches coordinator. “This is an important event for the arborist community and allows us to give back to those who have served us.”

Visit www.salutingbranches.org to get involved with Saluting Branches. There are volunteer, donor and partner opportunities available for both industry and non-industry supporters.