At each of the events, the students shared their artwork, poetry and new found knowledge about the importance of trees in their communities and the ecosystem.
In Wall, Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr. along with Freeholders Serena DiMaso and John P. Curley helped to plant a Swamp white oak, Quercus bicolor, between the school’s ball field and playground.
“We want to thank you for sharing your Arbor Day event with us,” Rich told the West Belmar students. “You worked hard to learn about trees and why we celebrate Arbor Day; your songs, poems and stories were terrific.”
In Holmdel, Freeholder Serena DiMaso, the freeholder liaison to the County’s Shade Tree Commission, quizzed students about the importance of being green and saluted the Holmdel School District’s Green Team. The students at planted an Okame cherry tree, Prunus okame, along the school’s entrance sidewalk. 
“This tree is a wonderful addition to your school,” DiMaso told the students. “Trees also reduce the erosion of our valuable topsoil, they cut heating and cooling costs, clear the air, produce life-giving oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife while providing beauty in our communities. Most of all we want you to remember this tree and come back and visit it after you leave this school.”
At each school, the freeholders also presented Arbor Day proclamations and recognized the work of the County’s Shade Tree Commission.
In Sea Girt, Freeholders Thomas A. Arnone and John P. Curley also spoke to students about the importance of trees and then helped the students plant a Kwanzan cherry tree, Prunus serrulata.
“The County Shade Tree Commission plants between 1,000 and 1,500 trees and shrubs each year,” Arnone said. “But they do much more than just plant and maintain trees. When storms hit, work crews go out to assessing the damage to our trees and while removing the broken limbs from County roads. They were a big part of our snowstorm cleanup this past year.”
At the West Belmar ceremony, the freeholders handed out a Douglas fir seedling to each child. The children were encouraged to take their tree seedlings home, plant them and help with community reforestation.
“Be sure to plant your seedling and water it, too,” Curley said as he handed out some of the Douglas fir seedlings at the events. “If you take care of your tree it will grow tall and strong like the tree we planted at your school.”
Each year the County holds Arbor Day celebrations that include tree plantings as part of its community forestry program. The County Shade Tree Commission is responsible for care and maintenance of the County’s many trees. Monmouth County actively participates in the Tree City USA program that is sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
This is the eighth year in a row that Monmouth County has been designated as a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Gaining “Tree City USA” recognition is an award to the tree workers, managers, volunteers, tree board members and others who work on behalf of better care of a community’s trees.
“Anyone who drives around Monmouth County or visits its 39 county parks knows that trees and gardens are a positive contribution to the County’s quality of life,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry.
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