Annual tree ceremony in honor of Arbor Day Published April 18, 2014 By Bob Sargent 78th Civil Engineer Group ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Members of the Robins community will gather at the former parade field near Forest Park Housing at 9 a.m. Monday to plant trees in commemoration of Arbor Day. The base conducts the observance in late April as the capstone of Robins' month-long celebration of the environment. Organizing a public Arbor Day event fulfills one of the four requirements a community like Robins must accomplish in order to be recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The ceremony will include the Arbor Day Proclamation reading and signing, and the accepting of Robins' 21st consecutive Tree City USA Award from representatives of the Georgia Forestry Commission. A central feature of the event will involve personal dedications and the planting of six trees by members of the Robins community. Many of the more than 100 young trees that surround the parade field have been planted in memory of loved ones who have left us, or to honor significant historical events, so this ceremony has become especially meaningful to Team Robins. The event also serves as an opportunity to showcase how volunteers throughout the community have come together to take care of the environment - to show pride in their green home. If you work on base, then you've probably heard of "Robins Pride." Numerous drought years and budget shortfalls have taken their toll on our natural community, as well as our ability to care of it. During the last two years many base organizations have voluntarily adopted a dozen green spaces here, including parks, lake shores and the young forest at the parade field. Please come join us for this special event.