City donates tree to Blue Ridge to celebrate Arbor Day

Blue Ridge students have a new red maple tree on campus thanks to a donation from the City of Walla Walla Wednesday in celebration of Arbor Day. This annual tradition helps educate students about the importance of planting and caring for trees.

"The City of Walla Walla promotes Arbor Day because of the great heritage trees have given to this community over many years," Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Dan Johnson said. "Our students need to share in the understanding that trees service us with clean air, beauty, and protection for wildlife and that we as citizen need to maintain and increase our urban forest in this community for generations to come. Plant a tree, its the right thing to do!"

Blue Ridge 5th grade students under the direction of teachers Jennie Dyerly, Amy Hartford and Margaret Yount provided musical entertainment during the Arbor Day Celebration following Principal Connie Taylor-Randalls reading of an inspirational poem about how people can learn from trees. Members of the City of Walla Walla Urban Forestry Advisory Commission were also in attendance and helped students plant green ash seedlings to take home and grow.