Public Works Forestry Staff Participates in Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance Day
On September 20, eight members of the Public Works Department used their expertise for a good cause and participated in the third annual Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance Day of Service at Danville National Cemetery. The goal of this event is to help make our troops’ final resting places safe and beautiful environments for all who visit.
Participating staff included Forestry Supervisor Andrew Lamoreux; Certified Arborists Craig Kempher, Dave Richmond, Greg Johnson, John Karduck, and Zachary Woodbury; and Temporary Laborers/Ground Workers Cody Smith and Eliot Gallardo. The City also donated the use of equipment, including a dump truck, two wood chippers, two bucket trucks, one mini-articulated loader, and a stump grinder. In one day, Champaign’s crew removed three very large trees from among the headstones, which required a significant amount of rigging and technical precision. They also assisted other crews with chipping and loading logs, removed several stumps, and planted four new trees.
This event was organized by Saluting Branches as a way to express gratitude to the brave men and women who have served in the armed services. Some of the larger national cemeteries have funding to spend on contractors for necessary tree work. Smaller cemeteries, like Danville National Cemetery, do not have the funding to effectively manage the trees themselves, and the City is honored to be able to assist with this event.
Public Works Staff and Other Volunteers at Danville National Cemetery
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- Trees needed to have special rigging to remove trees around headstones
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- A boom truck is used to remove high limbs
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- Staff use an articulator to move large logs
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- Large trees were removed from the cemetery
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- A boom truck and special rigging helps remove trees around headstones with care
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- Staff plant new trees at the Cemetery