Salem recently marked both Arbor Day and Earth Day with events that celebrated nature, community and the hope for a more peaceful world.
At G.W. Carver Elementary School, students joined members of Salem’s Beautification Division to plant new trees—a river birch, a white oak, and a bald cypress—along the South Broad Street side of the school. The effort was part of the city’s annual Arbor Day, celebrated on Friday, April 25, observance. Representatives from the Virginia Department of Forestry spoke with students about the importance of urban trees, and Smokey Bear made a special appearance to promote conservation and environmental awareness.
Meanwhile, Earth Day, celebrated on Tuesday, April 22, was observed with a special ceremony outside Heights Community Church in Grandin, where members of the Rotary Club of the Roanoke Valley dedicated a Rotary International Peace Pole. Bearing the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic, the pole symbolizes unity and global harmony. Local Rotarians were joined by Rotary District Governor Bret Hrbec of Front Royal and the church’s pastor, Nelson Harris.
