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TellZall's object for July is Arbor Day

When TellZall asked his friends to suggest topics that he might look at on his World Wide Web site, several mentioned Arbor Day. "Why don't you talk about a holiday that we remember but is now gone," they said. That's really unfortunate because Arbor Day is still alive and well. So, TellZall is going to do something different this month and talk about something that is still with us and deserves everyone's attention and support. J Sterling Morton

The story begins out West in the 1800s. The Nebraska Territory — it was not yet a state — was mainly treeless plains and prairie when the settlers began moving into the area. J. Sterling Morton and his wife moved there from Detroit, Michigan, in 1854. They missed the beauty of the trees that were so common in the East, and they also realized that trees serve as windbreaks, help hold soil in place, can be used as building materials and fuel, and provide shade from the sun. Mr. Morton was the editor of Nebraska's first newspaper, and he began to campaign for widespread tree planting.

In 1872 Mr. Morton first proposed Arbor Day, which was to be a tree-planting holiday in which prizes were to be given to individuals and organizations that planted the largest number of trees on that day. Two years later, Arbor Day became a legal holiday in Nebraska, and Mr. Morton's April 22 birthday was chosen as the day.

Soon, many schools participated, as students planted thousands of trees. Other states followed suit and adopted their own Arbor Days. In 1882 the nationwide program of students planting trees on Arbor Day began in earnest. In TellZall's front yard is large maple tree that was planted by such a student nearly fifty years ago, one of many, many such trees. Probably some of the trees near your home were planted on Arbor Day.

National Arbor Day, which is not a national holiday, is the last Friday in April. Many states celebrate Arbor Day on other dates, according to the best tree-planting seasons in their regions. In Ohio, Arbor Day is the last Friday in April.

So, on April 30, 2004, join with tree lovers past and present and plant a tree. Nurture it and watch it grow and know that you have done something to help make our world a little better.

For more information on Arbor Day, visit: