Operation 1000 Cherry Tree Project plants 50 more trees near AF Museum

  • Published
  • By Cindy Holbrook
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, --  Property along Springfield Street across from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force received a facelift on Oct. 26 and will look even different in the upcoming years with the addition of 46 Akebono Yoshino Cherry trees that were planted through the Operation 1000 Cherry Tree Project.

Four other trees were also planted just down the road near the playground to make it 50 on the day.

A group of approximately 25 volunteers from Japanese companies around Ohio were gathered by Alex Hara to plant the trees beginning at 1:30 p.m. on the north side of Springfield Street. These trees were added to 100 cherry trees planted in April of 2013 inside the museum property.

The city of Riverside helped the group by digging the holes for volunteers to put the trees in place.

"We wanted to plant the trees in the fall to give them a chance to establish their roots before the summer heat," said Hara, a Japanese-born businessman living in Dayton. He developed the Operation 1000 Cherry Tree Project after seeing the devastation to   his homeland, Japan, following the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami that claimed almost 16,000 lives and left more than 3,000 missing in March of 2011.

"My son brought in mulch that will go around all the trees once we get them in place," he continued. "Our goal is to plant 1,000 trees. We planted 200 last year and plan to do another 200 this year. It's become a part of local community beautification programs."

Hara said that the goal of the Operation 1000 Cherry Tree Project is to plant 1,000 cherry trees in the Dayton area as a symbol of Japan's deep gratitude for the support of the American people throughout this disaster.

The project began as a commemorative celebration of the 100th anniversary of Japan's gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the United States in 1912 and symbolizes the countries' then-growing friendship. Hara added that the trees planted near the base were to honor the first responders from the U.S. military based in Japan.

Montgomery County was the first to host a planting in July 2012.

More information about the Operation 1,000 Cherry Trees Project is available at  www.operation1000cherrytrees.com in both English and Japanese.