Wright-Patt, Fairborn students mark Arbor Day Published May 10, 2024 By R.J. Oriez 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The 88th Civil Engineer Group’s Environmental Branch teamed up with the Fairborn High School Environmental Club to mark Arbor Day on April 26 by planting trees at the Wright Brothers Memorial arboretum. Danielle Trevino, 88 CEG biological scientist, said she’s worked with Fairborn City Schools the past seven Arbor Days. Together, they’ve planted more than 100 trees and bushes at the site, helping Wright-Patterson Air Force Base earn its designation as a Tree City USA community. “Part of being a Tree City USA is that we hold an annual Arbor Day tree-planting celebration,” Trevino said. “I just thought it would be good community engagement. The kids could come out, learn something and then we also get help planting trees. I also thought it was cool because the kids will be able to grow up and see the trees that they planted.” David Lane, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry assistant chief, joined in the celebration. “When you get kids out here, it’s like bringing (them) into where we work,” he said. “Anything that we can do to bring them closer to nature and specifically working on trees, with the benefits that the trees give us, it’s not just the aesthetic appeal, but the erosion control (and) carbon sequestration. It’s just an awesome thing and that’s why we are here today.” As the dozen or so students filed off a school bus, they were greeted by Trevino, Lane and Col. Dustin Richards, 88th Air Base Wing and installation commander. Each thanked the students for coming out and talked with them about the significance of what they were doing. Col. Dustin Richards, 88th Air Base Wing and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base commander, welcomes the Fairborn High School Environmental Club to the Wright Brothers Memorial on April 26, 2024, for the Arbor Day tree-planting celebration. The 88th Civil Engineer Group teamed with students to add three more trees to the memorial’s arboretum. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Then, the students divided into three groups and got to work planting this year’s three trees—a tulip poplar, ginkgo and a pawpaw. They made short work of the project on this sunny, spring day. In less than an hour, all three trees were planted. Hopefully, a little bit of what they did will stick with them. This was not the first time Uyen Nguyn, a senior, had taken part in the annual event. “I get to be a part of basically helping out in saving the world and be a part of being sustainable and regrowing our Earth,” Nguyn said when asked what it meant to her.