East Meadow Kiwanis celebrates tree planting

It’s all about kids at the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow, and that was abundantly clear during its Inaugural Arbor Day planting last week at Veterans Memorial Park.

At the gazebo at East Meadow and Prospect Avenue, a spot in the park that sees lots of activities throughout the year and during holidays, a beautiful Crepe Myrtle tree was planted two weekends ago. The planting was made possible thanks to the cooperation of the East Meadow Kiwanis and local government officials, who joined the club at a ceremony on April 12, celebrating the new addition to the park.

Arbor Day, which takes place this year on April 26,  is a holiday dedicated to celebrating trees and promoting tree planting and conservation efforts. It’s a day when individuals, communities, and organizations come together to plant trees, educate others about the importance of trees to the environment and society, and take actions to preserve and protect existing trees.

Members of the K-Kids Club at Barnum Woods Elementary School led the Kiwanis in the tree’s dedication ceremony. The event, Kiwanis President Joe Parisi said, was organized to teach the club’s young members about Arbor Day, the importance of environmental stewardship and trees.

Student leaders in K-Kids shared with those that attended the dedication that Arbor Day varies in date depending on the region, but it’s typically observed in the spring when it’s ideal for planting trees. The first Arbor Day was celebrated in the United States in 1872 in Nebraska, and it has since spread to many other countries around the world.

The Kiwanis Club of East Meadow involves the community in a variety of enriching programs throughout the year that give back to children and those in need in East Meadow and beyond. For more, visit EastMeadowKiwanis.org.