San Bernardino, Ca (March 23, 2013) — The Incredible Edible Community Garden was awarded a California ReLeaf Grant to plant a Veteran’s Tree Garden at Cal State San Bernardino’s Veteran’s Success Center. On March 23rd, as part of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Veterans Living Memorial Garden, local veterans helped to plant 15 olive trees. They were planted in three clusters representing each of the five branches of the U.S. military–Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy. An additional 35 trees will be planted throughout the campus.
According to Eleanor Torres, Incredible Edible Community Garden board member, the planting of The Veteran’s Tree Garden celebrates the future of our soldiers as they transition their skills to community building. Fifty trees in all will be planted on campus.
The event was sponsored and partnered by The Incredible Edible Community Garden founded by Dr. Mary E. Petit, Cal State University and their Veterans Success Center, and the county Department of Veterans Affairs.
Flowering crepe myrtle trees are also planned for the garden adjacent to the Veterans Center. “This living memorial of trees will stand as a lasting tribute to the men and women who have served this nation,” said Bill Moseley, director of the county Department of Veterans Affairs.
Mayor Pat Morris and City Council members, as well as university President Tomas Morales, were among officials attending the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is about making our veterans an integral and central part of our university community,” Morales said.
Joe Mosely, an Iraqi veteran who is president of the Cal State Student Veterans Organization, said the day was a success story when the veterans come back home and can see that the “community cares and has a place for us.
See the photo gallery of the event.
Source: “Veterans plant trees, open garden at Cal State San Bernardino”