NEW WINDSOR – The Town of New Windsor held an extremely successful Arbor Day Tree dedication ceremony on Friday, April 27th after being awarded an Arbor Day Community Grant from the New York State Urban Forestry Council.
Nearly 100 people were in attendance.
The grant, along with private donations, allowed the town to plant 13 new trees around the town hall complex.
Five trees were eastern redbud trees paid for by the grant. There were also three privately donated eastern redbud trees, three kanzan cherry trees and two weeping cherry trees.
The town dedicated several of the trees to local veteran organizations and first responders.
They include:
· American Legion Post 1796 designated by the Town of New Windsor
· Catholic War Veterans Post 386 designated by the Town of New Windsor
· Disabled American Veterans Thomas D. Peterkin Memorial Chapter #152 designated by the Town of New Windsor
· NYC Retired Firefighters of Orange County donated by Chief of Staff Colin Schmitt and Nikki Pagano.
· Town of New Windsor Police Benevolent Association
· Town of New Windsor CSEA
· New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Corps
· In Loving Memory of Richard Simonson donated by Supervisor George Green and Town Clerk Debbie Green.
· In Loving Memory of Councilwoman Susan Weyant and Receiver of Taxes Mary Ann Hotaling donated by an Anonymous donor.
Vails Gate Fire Department and New Windsor Fire Department also donated manpower and funds to refurbish the town’s fireman’s memorial. The memorial was re-dedicated during the Arbor Day Ceremony. The town is very grateful to the two departments for their support and assistance.
Supervisor Green stated, “We thank the Urban Forestry Council for this Arbor Grant and all those who worked to make this event a reality. Our town was especially thrilled to be able to honor our local veteran organizations and first responders with the dedication of trees around our town hall complex. They will serve as a beautiful reminder of those they are dedicated to for all who visit the town hall complex grounds.”
Councilman Steve Moreau, chair of the Town Tree Committee stated, “The Town of New Windsor was honored to receive a grant to host an Arbor Day event this year. We are thrilled by how many people showed up to dedicate the trees and celebrate Arbor Day. Our Veteran and First Responder heroes were rightfully honored.”
The Arbor Day event also included an educational component. 50 local students from Sacred Heart School attended the ceremony and sang our National Anthem, Afterwards they received a presentation for Devitt’s Nursey about tree care. Devitt’s kindly donated spruce tree seedlings to every student who attended the ceremony.
Moreau continued, “I want to thank Devitt’s for their generous donation and assistance throughout this entire process. I also thank all those who donated additional trees including New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Corps, New Windsor PBA, New Windsor CSEA, Chief of Staff Colin Schmitt and Nikki Pagano, Supervisor George Green and Town Clerk Debbie Green. We also thank Vails Gate Fire Department and New Windsor Fire Department for their donations of time and manpower to refurbish our town Fireman’s memorial. I would also be remise if I did not thank the New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Corps for allowing us to use their bays to have our event so attendees could be inside and out of the rain, but still see all the trees.”