Over a year and a half ago, Victoria Fewell went before the Charlotte City Tree Commission and requested their help in the planting of two oak trees in Eastway Park that could be dedicated to Officer Jeff Shelton and Officer Sean Clark.
What with the drought, the park's opening was delayed by a full year and the request put on hold.
Earlier this year, however, things started to happen. Laura Brewer, the city's assistant arborist, Ann Howard, horticulturist for Parks and Recreation, got together and made the plans.
Craig Madans, TAC chair; Jennifer Roberts, County Commission chair; Patsy Kinsey, District 1 City Council chair; Susan Burgess, Mayor Pro-Tem; Johnny Jennings, Captain of North Tryon, CMPD; James Alsop, Division Director, Parks and Recreation; Eric Muecke, DFR Forester; Diego Anselmo, Major, CMPD; Don McSween, City Arborist; Scott Roberts, Southern Shade Tree (who, by the way, donated the willow oak and nuttall oak trees); all participated in the ceremony.
During the ceremony, Eric Muecke presented the city with a plaque for "Tree City of the Year" for the 30th year in a row.
There were several others from the Tree Commission and Parks and Recreation as well as Deputy Chief Kerr Putney, Deputy Chief Harold Medlock and Chief Rodney Monroe and officers from the North Tryon Division who were present and participated in the ceremonial "shoveling of dirt" onto the tree roots.
Many of the local residents present commented on the ceremony as a whole. "Oak trees are a symbol of strength and longevity." "A park is one of the best places for this."
After the ceremony, the Tree Commission handed out seedlings to the crowd.
Following a quick lunch, the Tree Commission along with Julian Underwood, President of Shannon Park, Victoria Fewell, President of C.E.C.P. and Veronica Thompson, Treasurer of C.E.C.P. drove to Briarwood Academy, and were given a wonderful treat by the kindergarten classes in the form of an Arbor Day program which included poems, songs and hand-made thank you notes.
Craig Madans spoke and entertained.(Everybody needs to see Craig Madans with a microphone in front of several dozen kindergarteners....
.....) Julian Underwood presented the prizes to the top three fifth graders who won the Arbor Day poster contest.Afterwards, the Tree Commission handed out seedlings to the crowd, which, by the way, had many proud parents looking on.
All in all, it was a WONDERFUL day!