A little more than 18 months after the most destructive wildfire in Texas history, Bastrop is coming together once again, this time to celebrate resiliency, recovery, and hope.
Those themes will be the primary focus as Bastrop residents join with state and local dignitaries this Friday to celebrate the 124th Texas Arbor Day.
Texas A&M Forester Service Director Tom Boggus said Arbor Day is special because it celebrates the bond between Texans and our trees.
Boggus also said trees can stir strong memories and serve as markers for significant milestones in our lives. They have the unique ability to bring community members together and provide them with hope for the future, which is exactly what they’re celebrating this year in Bastrop.
First observed in Texas in 1889, Arbor Day celebrates the planting and nurturing of trees, as well as all the ways that trees enrich our lives. The annual state celebration is held in a different city each year.
This year the observance is designed to shine a spotlight on the Bastrop community and its resiliency in the wake of a devastating wildfire in late 2011 that charred 32,400 acres, destroyed 1,660 homes and killed about 1.5 million trees.
The official state ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center.
- Learn more about national Arbor Day events at: www.arborday.org
- Texas A&M Forest Service is online at: texasforestservice.tamu.edu
