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Fairchild celebrates 20 years as “Tree City USA” on Arbor Day

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Over the past 20 years, more than 2,500 trees and shrubs have been planted in the base's parks and along streets in order to make the community a more pleasant place to live leading to Team Fairchild being recognized for 20 years as a Tree City USA community during the base's annual Arbor Day celebration in Miller Park here April 25.

"This is a significant milestone that shows we're continuously striving to be better stewards of our environment," said Lt. Col. Jason Campbell, the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron commander.

The Tree City USA program is designed to recognize those communities that effectively manage their public tree resources and to encourage the implementation of community tree management based on four Tree City USA standards. These four standards are to provide structure for a community forestry program, require the program to demonstrate success based on the judgment of the state forester's office and provide for an awareness and appreciation of trees among the residents of the community.

Fairchild has been recognized as a Tree City community every year since 1994. The base has also received the Tree City USA Growth Award nearly every year since 1995. The growth award is given to communities that go the "extra mile" in improving urban forestry resources.

"With this year being a banner year for us, we're going to create an arboretum here," said Steve Selser, the 92nd CES natural resources manager. "This location [Miller Park] is a great place to build such a marvel as after the budget cuts, it will continue to be irrigated."

Selser said they've already begun putting up informational signs about the various trees being planted in the educational garden.

"Come out here any weekend and you'll see families playing in the park and units taking in the grounds during squadron picnics," said Col. Konrad Klausner, the 92nd Mission Support Group commander. "For us to have risen to this level is phenomenal."