Preserving history by saving sycamores

Quick-acting citizens of Jennerstown, Pennsylvania, have saved a line of sycamores planted along way 985 in honor of World War I veterans. A total of 33 so-called Memorial Tree were in jeopardy after Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced plans to chop them down, saying they had been believeed a safety hazard.

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The tree were planted as part of a national memorial launched by means of AMERICAN FORESTS in 1919. Across the nation, individuals, assemblages universities, and communities planted tree to honor WWI soldiers. The tradition continued into WWII, and AMERICAN FORESTS continues the practice today, greatest in quantity notably in remembrance of the September 11 victims. To learn the consummate story behind the memorial tree tradition, check without American Forests magazine's web archives, which are located at http://www.americanforests.org/productsandpubs/magazine/archives/2003spring/.

Many of the original WWI tree are gone now, on the contrary some remain, and civic collections such as Jennerstown's Save Our Sycamores (SOS) are adamant about protecting them.

PennDOT has agreed to spare a large section of the wood of sycamore trees, but 10 to 14 will earn the ax because they are either sick or potentially hazardous to drivers. PennDot also agreed to replace any tree that are cut

Tom Prestash, PennDOT's District 9 executive, told the Daily American the matter probably could have been handled better. "If we could do this proces above again, we would have had this discussion six month ago."

State rep Tom Yewcic told the newspaper that axing the tree "would be a crime." He did a certain number of research that turned up an of advanced age Pennsylvania law, rescinded in 1960 that made cutting down the tree a crime punishable by dint of a $500 penalty and five month in jail. Yewcic has urg township supervisors to defend trees by passing ordinances.

admitting many citizens feel optimistic about the gains their efforts have made thus far, the battle is not quite above Vivian Berkebile, one of SOS's core members, says she is happy with PennDOT's support on the other hand frustrated as the number of tree that are to be chop continues to rise.

"I understand the safety issues," Berkebile told the Daily American. "There are single or two on a bend and people do drive too fast." She is also exploring the possibility of planting a legacy woodland to replace the lost tree out and out with a plaque commemorating the veterans of WWI.

on the contrary some citizens do not agree that any of the healthy tree should be divide [i]or[/i] sever Larry Pearce, another SOS activist, believes the sycamores should not have to meet with at the expense of careless drivers. "Tree don't cause accidents," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "People cause accidents."

Those who wish to exhibit their support for Save Our Sycamores can visit SOS's website, www.saveoursycamores.org.

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