Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/165924
fieldreport: event is you are pulling people from across the country together," says Michael Kravitsky IV, president of Grasshopper Lawns in Larksville, Pennsylvania, who has been attending the event for 17 years. "You are pulling competitors who compete in their own market, and when they come to Arlington, all of that goes away." Recently, the program added a portion to involve children to teach them about the green industry. Children, parents and Arlington staff work together to plant perennials and native grasses, as well as make flower arrangements. "We started the kids program several years ago, and at that time, we were planting some trees," says Gene Queen, president of Nature's Select out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who has been attending the event for 13 years. "How great is it for a child to come back 20 years from now and point at a tree and say, 'I planted that.'" Robert Brophy, with Turfco Manufacturing, addressed the 400 volunteers in the dedication speech at the event. Brophy served during the Vietnam War as a medic in the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment. "We were only 1,000 men strong," Brophy says. "The time the unit was in Vietnam, it put more than 180 names on that wall across the river. Some are personal friends of mine, and some of them rest in these grounds. For them, we must 10 To ta l L a n d s c ap eC are.c om TLC0613_FieldReport.indd 10 forever remember who we are. We are a nation of people who are willing to work and grow as our abilities allow us." The event is not just about planting a few trees or liming select areas. For Fogarty, the event is always about the future. "What we do today is to help those in the next generation, like how we were given a gift from the past." To view the photo gallery and video from the Renewal & Remembrance event, visit. total landscapecare.com/landscapershonor-fallen-soldiers. tlc More than 400 individuals volunteered time and manpower to help renovate and beautify Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Professional Landcare Network's (PLANET) 17th Annual Renewal & Remembrance event. Volunteers worked on a variety of projects including landscaping, tree trimming and liming, while others helped with the children's program. s e p t e m b e r 2 013 8/27/13 10:05 AM