Nebraska City commissioners invited to help establish Nebraska Memorial Forest

NEBRASKA CITY – Jim Meier, Nebraska director of Honor and Remember, asked Nebraska City commissioners to join a statewide campaign to honor 7,000 fallen military and first responders with a Nebraska Memorial Forest. 

Meier: “The idea is that when it’s all completed there would 7,000 to 8,000 trees planted throughout the state in groves of 50 or more, each tree named after one of Nebraskan’s fallen military or first responder.” 

Over 260 trees have already been planted in Omaha and the chapter is hoping for 1,500 plantings this year across the state. 

Nebraska City has been a tree-planting community for over 150 years and Parks Commissioners Pat Wehling said there is not a lot of open space left for the 140 trees Honor and Remember suggests. 

Treeplantation.com says a dense forest has 400 trees per acre, but only 100 oak trees per acre is recommended. 

Meier: “Taking it from a concept, an idea, to reality is a whole new ballgame.” 

John Erixson of the Nebraska Forest Service said planting space is available at the Horning State Farm in Cass County and Natural Resource Districts agree to partner with the memorial forest.  

Trees are being planted in an identifiable geometric grove, so they serve as a small sanctuary and reflect a living memorial to fallen heroes. 

 

Meier: “Nebraska City is an outstanding place for the tree memorial for just that reason, I mean it’s the tree capital of the country, the home of Arbor Day of course, and these folks here understand trees.” 

He said Nebraska City already has a commitment to the importance of trees to the overall health of the environment and there is expertise in place to decide how to establish the grove sanctuaries.