Landscape Architect Articles

LCN September 2006 Off the Clock09-29-06 | News

Volunteer Landscape Effort Continues at Cemeteries

A volunteer from the Irrigation Association helps to install one of six irrigation zones at Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Professional Landcare Network?EUR??,,????'???s ?EUR??,,????'??Renewal and Remembrance?EUR??,,????'?? program.

By Gregory V. Harris, regional editor

In terms of dollars, the Professional Landcare Network?EUR??,,????'???s (PLANET) annual event ?EUR??,,????'??Renewal and Remembrance?EUR??,,????'?? held July 24 was a rousing success, with more than $200,000 in volunteer time and equipment donated to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

For Bob Dobson, a member of the Irrigation Association board of directors and president of Middletown Sprinkler Co., volunteering his time and expertise at Arlington National Cemetery is a personal cause.

Dobson, an Army veteran, says Arlington National Cemetery has special importance to all Americans, but especially to the veterans like himself and other volunteers with military service.

?EUR??,,????'??I was in the Army and did one tour in Vietnam,?EUR??,,????'?? Dodson said. ?EUR??,,????'??This is a great opportunity for me to lend my skills and to volunteer at Arlington National Cemetery. My friends and colleagues are buried there.?EUR??,,????'??

The Irrigation Association teamed with PLANET on this years?EUR??,,????'??? effort at the cemetery to install six irrigation zones along a path to visitor parking. In addition to Dobson, other irrigation volunteers with military service included: Paul Hill, co-owner of Irrigation Services Inc., Front Royal, Va., a Navy veteran; and Ray Green, of Atlantic Lawn Irrigation, Milford, N.H., Coast Guard.

Other volunteers included Irrigation Services Inc. co-owner Geoff Mack and seven ISI employees; John Vandercruyssen and Gerry Schmidt of John Deere Landscapes; Marvin Ceron of Chapel Valley Landscape Co. in Sterling, Va.; Lorne and Anna Haveruk, DH Water Management Services Inc., in Toronto; Marshall Owings of Sposato Irrigation; Tyler Green of Atlantic Lawn Irrigation, and Andy Smith of the Irrigation Association.

PLANET members limed approximately 75 acres at Arlington National Cemetery during the ?EUR??,,????'??Renewal and Remembrance?EUR??,,????'?? project held July 24. Liming the cemetery has been one of the mainstay volunteer projects performed by PLANET members.

Tom Delaney, PLANET?EUR??,,????'???s director of government affairs, said this year?EUR??,,????'???s event was the 10th annual effort at Arlington, with more than $1 million in manpower and equipment having been donated over that time.

?EUR??,,????'??It started out as a small project, but it has grown over the years,?EUR??,,????'?? Delaney said. ?EUR??,,????'??This was the first year for an irrigation project.?EUR??,,????'??

Delaney said the early years of volunteer work at Arlington included liming of the cemetery grounds.

?EUR??,,????'??We had some member companies that donated these materials and our members would do the work,?EUR??,,????'?? he said. ?EUR??,,????'??One year, we had six truckloads of lime donated, which allowed us to install it over 250 acres.?EUR??,,????'??

In addition to the efforts at Arlington National Cemetery, Delaney said the Renewal and Remembrance program also does work at the Historic Congressional Cemetery, located near the Capitol in Washington D.C.

?EUR??,,????'??Tip O?EUR??,,????'???Neill, J. Edgar Hoover and John Philip Sousa are all buried there,?EUR??,,????'?? Delaney noted. ?EUR??,,????'??We have changed the look of Congressional Cemetery due to the volunteer efforts.?EUR??,,????'??

PLANET members pruned, cabled and installed lightening protection on some of the trees at Arlington National Cemetery. More than 300 landscape, lawn care, and tree care specialists from across the nation participated in this year?EUR??,,????'???s volunteer effort.

The volunteer efforts at the cemeteries are scheduled around PLANET?EUR??,,????'???s annual Legislative Day on the Hill. More than 300 landscape, lawn care, and tree care specialists from across the nation brought their crews to Arlington National and Historic Congressional cemeteries and spent the day mulching, cabling trees with lightening protection, pruning, liming, planting, and aerating, as well as installing the irrigation system at Arlington National Cemetery.

?EUR??,,????'??This event provides an opportunity for us to demonstrate our professional skills and care for two important American monuments,?EUR??,,????'?? stated PLANET President John Gibson, CLT. ?EUR??,,????'??This year marks the largest turnout and largest contribution we?EUR??,,????'???ve ever had.?EUR??,,????'??