L-R, An official from Danville Public Works
joins Mr. Drew Arnn, Dept. of Forestry, Danville Mayor Sherman Saunders, Chloe Kepley, 8th Grade, Nancy Oakes, Treasurer of Epiphany Church, and Joe King, Interim City Manager use "gold" shovels to plant a dogwood for Arbor Day.




>Watch Photogallery of Ceremony


     On a cool April morning as some students proudly shivered in Epiphany's courtyard, several city dignitaries gathered to present and plant a Dogwood tree in celebration of Arbor Day.
          Danville Mayor The Hon. Sherman Saunders read a proclamation regarding the Award to Epiphany Episcopal School and explained the origin and meaning of Arbor Day.
          Arbor Day (from the Latin feminine noun arbor, simply meaning tree) is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. Arbor Day originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States and is celebrated in a number of countries.
          It was founded officially by J. Sterling Morton in 1872. By the 1920s each state in the United States had passed public laws that stipulated a certain day to be Arbor Day or Arbor and Bird Day observance. These dates were established depending on climate and suitable planting times. Spring is the season in which our Arbor Day celebration is held.
          In the present, Arbor Day is observed nationally, and it has garnered considerable recognition throughout various parts of the world. 
          In the United States, National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in the month of April. This year's Arbor Day will be recognized on the 30 of April, 2010.
          Mayor Saunders ruminated on how his grandfather had demonstrated that sitting under a tree was the best way to enlightened decision-making.
          Also speaking on the significance of the Dogwood was Interim City Manager Joe King, Ann Smithwick, Chairman of the Danville Council of Garden Clubs, Vivian Giles, Head of Trees and Landscape Committee and Mrs. Ruth Blankenship, Chair of the City Beautiful Committee. The Dogwood now planted in the courtyard was donated by the Danville Council of Garden Clubs.
          Speaking on behaf of EES were Headmaster The Rev. Samuel Colley-Toothaker, Associate Headmaster, Suzanne Miller and Chloe Kepley. The EES students had prepared a song in celebration of the earth and environment, which they sang admirably!
          The students seemed impressed when the presenters spoke on the permanence of this tree and how someday they would be grown and return to see this tree grown to full towering height. Mr. Drew Arnn of the Department of Forestry presented the students with pine saplings to plant at their homes.
 

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