Scorching temperatures did not daunt over 400 volunteers participating in the 28th Renewal and Remembrance event, presented by NALP and powered by Stanley Black & Decker, on July 15, 2024.
“This profession works in any condition, and they’ve more than proven it today,” says Britt Wood, CEO of NALP. “We’re going to have temperatures that are going to reach nearly 100 degrees, and it’s going to feel like 115. It’s just incredibly impressive that all these folks are willing to do it. No one is complaining. No one even batted an eye when we talked about that. That’s pretty impressive.”
This year’s event featured various projects at the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial (AVDLM) and Arlington National Cemetery (ANC).
Volunteers installed 13,000 plants at AVDLM. The plants included mondo grass, Lenten rose, blue switchgrass, lily turf, white creeping mazus, ‘Blue Zinger’ sedge, Virginia bluebells, and 12 8’-10’ holly trees.
Matthew Morrison with the National Park Service says the impact of the project at the AVDLM is tremendous.
“Introducing all these plants just gives a nice calming effect to the human psyche,” Morrison says. “To take some time to walk through these facilities and they’re beautifully landscaped. It’s just a wonderful experience.”
This year marks the 10th anniversary of AVDLM, a space where a grateful nation can appreciate their veterans. Filled with ginkgo and cypress trees, the memorial provides a place of respite that combines strength with vulnerability.
President-elect Pam Dooley stressed to attendees that they should be present as they planted and think about those who sacrificed and their stories, which were shared on the glass walls.
Don Irby, a general manager with TruGreen, based in Memphis, Tennessee, says they’ve helped out at ANC in the past, but it was cool getting to help with installing the holly trees.
“This is going to provide some shade and a quiet area from the traffic noise in this new section here,” Irby says. “As they were talking about earlier this morning, it’s just a place where you can come and enjoy some peace and quiet away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. It just beautifies this area, so it’s nice to have this area for the disabled veterans.”
Meanwhile, at ANC, projects included applying lime, mulching tree rings, adding lightning protection to trees and various irrigation and hardscape projects.
First-time attendee and Air Force veteran John Murphy, professional development manager for Stanley Black & Decker, says he hadn’t been to the cemetery since he was a young kid.
“I deployed and did my part, but here I stand, full body and other folks aren’t as lucky and obviously some don’t make it back,” Murphy says. “So being here now, it certainly resonates with me a lot deeper in my heart. It’s a small little token, giving something back in a way, but it’s certainly near and dear to my heart. I was happy when they said we would come here and do this.”
Murphy helped with lime applications while another first-time attendee Nathan Boczon, market director of lawn operations for Green Lawn Fertilizing, based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, applied mulch and installed hardscaping.
“Just every little thing that makes it more and more beautiful, whether it’s family members that come to see past relatives or people flying in from other countries to visit this great cemetery, every little thing that we do to make it a little bit more beautiful just helps in every way,” Boczon says.
Brandon Sheppard, president of NALP, keeps coming back to Renewal and Remembrance because of the personal impact he gets from participation. His family has been participating in the event close to its inception.
“I view it as part of our civic responsibility,” Sheppard says. “Much like voting and picking up litter and part of being a responsible citizen. Understanding that all the gifts we have, being Americans aren’t just a birthright, they’re an obligation.”
Sheppard says Renewal & Remembrance is an opportunity to show respect and the ways landscape professionals care for the environment.
“We have people literally digging ditches with pickaxes today in 100-degree heat with smiles on their faces because this is work they want to do,” Sheppard says.
The overwhelming sentiment from the volunteers was what a great experience the event is and they do it as a way to say thanks.
“You really don’t have to say any more than just what our veterans have done for us,” Irby says. “Digging those holes, it’s hot. It’s 100 degrees. It’s hard. It pales in comparison to what they went through and the struggles and the loss that they suffered. To give back to them, it’s our privilege and honor.”
Thank you to our Elite partners – Aspire, Caterpillar, Stanley Black & Decker, and STIHL – as well as our additional partners who help support this event!
