Planting trees to “carry on memories” is not a new thought, Cmdr. Barringer added, and the VFW Post plans to plant the tree on Memorial Day.“The trees are being furnished to the VFW Posts through Wal-Mart, and are five-gallons. . .what we had in mind is the site across the street next to the Veterans Memorial; there’s a hedge there we have our eye on,” that could be the site of the new tree. “The Mercer-Prieto Post would like to have a ceremony and have the participation of the City Council,” when the Eisenhower Green Ash is planted in the park on Memorial Day later this month, said Cmdr. Barringer.Mayor Don Johnson noted that the City Council had received a letter from the Mercer-Prieto VFW Post, and although the issue of the tree planting was agendized on the presentation portion of the meeting, asked that the council formally vote on the matter.The full council voted yes on planting the Eisenhower Ash Tree at Veterans Park.
Council: M-P VFW to take part in Operation Silent Witness tree planting
May 18, 2001
Santa Paula City Council
Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 will be among the thousands of posts nationwide to participate in the Operation Silent Witness program after the City Council approved the request for the symbolic tree planting at Veterans Park.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesMercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 will be among the thousands of posts nationwide to participate in the Operation Silent Witness program after the City Council approved the request for the symbolic tree planting at Veterans Park.Post Commander Carl Barringer told the council at the May 7 meeting that Operation Silent Witness is the planting of a green ash tree, known as the Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower Green Ash; his boyhood home in Denison, Texas had such a tree. Operation Silent Witness strives to “Plant remembrances of those who fought and those who lost their lives in World War II,” as well as the six branches of the military, Cmdr. Barringer noted.Gen. Eisenhower is credited with orchestrating the Allied success in Europe during World War II; descendants of the tree that still stands next to his boyhood home were planted at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia honoring the different branches of the military, the valiant service of those who fought and the some 300,000 Americans who lost their lives in the war. Trees that will planted across the nation by VFW posts are also descendants of the original tree from the Eisenhower home.
