The Tree Care Industry Honors Veterans with a Third Annual Saluting Branches National Day of Service

Minnetonka, MN, September 16, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Saluting Branches: Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance is a nonprofit nationwide organization honoring veterans through the care of trees in Veteran Cemeteries. On September 20th, 2017, the third annual day of service, nearly 2,000 tree industry professionals will donate a full day by doing what they do best; caring for trees. With 44 veteran properties eager to participate and supported by industry leaders; including Rainbow Treecare, ACRT, Inc., The Davey Tree Expert Company, STIHL®, Petzl®, and Bandit Industries, this event delivers benefits that will be enjoyed now and for future generations.

Many National Cemeteries around the country do not have professional arborists inspecting and caring for their trees. These cemeteries are visited by millions of families and loved ones paying their respects to veterans. Saluting Branches saw an opportunity to make a difference by bringing together arborists, with expertise in tree structure, invasive insects, diseases, and best management practices in tree health, to improve the beauty and safety of the trees located in these hallowed sites across the nation.

Additional sponsors that are helping to make this day possible: Partner Level: Arborwear, Teufelberger, SavaTree; Associate: Altec, Guardair, AirSpade Division, Jarraff Industries, RDO, Shelter Tree; Individual Level: TCIA, Anderberg Printing, ArborMAX, At Height, Teupen Lifts, Tree Stuff, UAA, and American Arbor Care.

2016 volunteer comments about the event include, “I did this last year and can’t wait until this year to do it again. What an outstanding way to honor our country’s veterans.”; “Our actions and participation in this event is a small token of our thanks to the men and women who served. We are proud to be a part of an industry that recognizes our veterans and the sacrifices they made.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Veteran Affairs said; “As I reflect back upon 2015 and the numerous landscape maintenance activities completed at the nationwide network of National Cemeteries administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), the “Saluting Branches” National Day of Volunteer Arborist Service, which was organized and championed by Rainbow Treecare and supported by many other tree care companies from across the United States, was clearly the most successful and positively impactful.”

In 2015, the Saluting Branches first annual day of service was organized by Rainbow Treecare, a tree care service company in Minnetonka, MN. Saluting Branches was developed as a green industry project to honor veterans and improve the environment through the science of tree care. Embraced by the industry with enthusiasm, to date the nonprofit has had two events, provided tree care services to 39 cemetery sites, and have had more than 2,400 volunteers donate close to $2,500,000 in services.

Locations for the 2017 event currently include:
Fort Smith National Cemetery, Fort Smith, AR
Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, NC
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ
Manchester VA Hospital, Manchester, NH
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, CA
Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, NJ
Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO
Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, NM
Middletown Veterans Cemetery, Middletown, CT
Gerald B H Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY
Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL
Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman, OH
South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, FL
Dayton National Cemetery, Dayton, OH
Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, GA
Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, OR
Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Adel, IA
National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, PA
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL
Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA
Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, IL
Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, RI
Danville National Cemetery, Danville, IL
Nashville National Cemetery, Nashville, TN
Indiana Veteran's Home Cemetery, West Lafayette, IN
Knoxville National Cemetery, Knoxville, TN
Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS
Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, TX
Camp Nelson National Cemetery, Nicholasville, KY
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX
Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA
Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park, Bluffdale, UT
Baltimore National Cemetery, Baltimore, MD
Hampton National Cemetery, Hampton, VA, 23669
Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI
Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, VA
Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN
Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Randolph Center, VT
Jefferson-Barracks Cemetery, Jefferson, MO
Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA
Springfield National Cemetery, Springfield, MO
Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spooner, WI
Fort Harrison State Veterans Cemetery, Helena, MT
Greenwood Cemetery, Superior, WI

For the most up to date information about Saluting Branches, including all locations and event sponsors, please visit: www.SalutingBranches.org. To see a YouTube video of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Li1EinkD8

At the time of this press release two locations have been postponed due to Hurricane Irma; Florida National in Bushnell, FL and South Florida National in Lake Worth, FL. The rescheduled dates will be determined at a later date.

Contact: Deb Peterson, Saluting Branches Coordinator
dpeterson@rainbowtreecare.com | 952-252-0544
www.SalutingBranches.org