Eugene Schlegel, Catasauqua Shade Tree Commission chair and Catasauqua Borough Council member, kicked off an April 27 Arbor Day celebration filled with dedications and goodwill. The event was held at the municipal complex, 90 Bridge St.

Catasauqua Borough is recognized with an official national Tree City USA designation, and the borough has an active shade tree commission. There was a nice turnout for the celebration of citizens, award winners and their families.

The program opened with an invocation provided by Catasauqua Councilwoman the Rev. Virginia Schlegel, of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Whitehall. The event also included a proclamation by Mayor Barbara Schlegel, a quote read by Catasauqua Shade Tree Commission Vice Chairman Mike Snyder, a poem read by former commission chairman Robert Bastian and a benediction from the Rev. Schlegel.

There were several dedications. The first was a tree dedicated to honor Mission BBQ, Whitehall, in appreciation for services provided to veterans and first responders in Catasauqua and across the Lehigh Valley.

The second dedication was to the late John Kalynych, a Catasauqua Fire Department deputy chief. He also served as the safety officer with Lower Saucon Fire Department and as a firefighter at Lehigh Valley International Airport.

Both of these Hearts of Gold redbud trees were planted at the tot lot at 11th and Poplar streets.

The third dedicated tree was to honor Bernard Skripak for his 42 years of service on the Catasauqua Borough Zoning Board.

Another cherry tree was dedicated to Catasauqua K-9 Officer Zora and in memory of past K-9 Officer Jack of the Catasauqua Police Department. Officer John Wiseman is the officer in charge of the K-9 unit.

These cherry trees were planted at the tot lot at 11th Street and Faith Drive.

On Jan. 4, 1872, J. Sterling Morton initially proposed a tree planting holiday - now known as Arbor Day - at a meeting of Nebraska’s state board of agriculture. The date was set for April 10, 1872. Settlers and homesteaders at that time were urged to plant trees that would provide shade, shelter, fruit, fuel and beauty for the residents of the largely treeless plains.

Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for the largest, properly planted trees on that day in 1872. It was estimated more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.

In the years following, other states passed legislation to observe Arbor Day. The tree-planting tradition began in schools nationwide by 1882. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states and more than 40 countries around the globe.

Catasauqua’s 2024 Arbor Day celebration concluded with refreshments and socializing among the attendees.