Seward hosted its annual Arbor Day celebration April 29 with a program and tree planting at the Nebraska National Guard Museum.
The opening and welcome was by GFWC Emcee Joanna Treas, president of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club, the official sponsor of the event for the last 50 years. She led the group with The Pledge of Allegiance. A welcome from Seward Mayor Josh Eickmeier followed with his official Arbor Day proclamation.
John Culver, chair of the Seward County commissioners, talked about the history of Arbor Day.
State Sen. Mark Kolterman, District 24, presented a special Legislative Resolution honoring Seward and the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club for their 50th Annual Arbor Day. He also talked about the value of planting trees and thanked the children for their participation.
Thomas Suhr, chair of the Seward Tree Board, introduced other buard members, including Ken Schmieding and Chuck Matzke.
Dr. Ron Wallman, longtime tree enthusiast, was given the Friend of Tree Award. He has personally planted hundreds of trees at his home, farm and on the Seward County Fairgrounds. The presentation was made by Suhr and Treas, as the award is sponsored by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club and the Seward Tree Board, City of Seward.
Suhr presented a wooden plaque to commemorate the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club for their 50th annual Seward Arbor Day program.
The program’s entertainment was a “Tribute to Trees” by each fourth grade class present. The Seward Elementary School, fourth grade teachers had their students present tree poems. Presenters were Nolan Robbins, Charlotte Rucker, Brayton Hotovy, Lillie Harmoney, McCoy Morken, Jackeline Hemphill., Amarah Fogarty, Kinley Daberkow and Class Representative Sam Peterson.
The St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, directed by teacher Dorothy Marshall, presented a tree tribute in literature and art as the class presented “The Giving Tree.” The class showed artwork as the book was read, page by page. St. John Lutheran School also had a tribute to trees in song and music, as the class sang “The Green Grass Grows All Around.”
The announcement of the winners of the “My Favorite Tree” Art Contest, Grades K to 4, sponsored annually by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club were announced and recognized.
The event concluded with planting memorial trees to honor the late twin brothers, Deroyce and Aloyce Volzke. The trees were donated by their families. Tree planters included the honored dignitaries, fourth grade class representatives and members of the families of Deroyce and Aloyce Volzke.
Class representatives included EV Campbell, Damien Connores, Avah Bachman, Sam Peterson, Michael Kolterman and Drayden Krohe. The class representatives represented area four grade classes to assist in planting the trees and selected by each class.
Both Volzkes were veterans of the US Army, lifelong residents of Seward County and committed conservationists. Deroyce’s tree is a Burr Oak and Aloyce’s tree is the Red Oak.
