Tree planting celebrates milestone anniversary
Apr. 25—LIMA — It is a term few may be familiar with now, but with 2026 drawing closer, Americans may be encountering the word "semiquincentennial" more frequently as it describes a 250th anniversary. With the United States preparing to celebrate that milestone, a ceremony Friday morning at Lima Stadium Park kicked off the festivities a little early.
Friday's Heritage Trees ceremony was organized by America 250-Ohio, the commission tasked with organizing the state's commemorations of the nation's 250th anniversary. The Heritage Trees program involves the planting of a white oak tree as a living memorial to commemorate the anniversary.
"Trees are living history, and there is a way to honor our history by planting a tree," America 250-Ohio commission member Leslie Wagner, a historian at Newark's Dawes Arboretum, said. "It's really showing the public that history and horticulture are not as siloed as people may think."
The goal of the Heritage Trees project is to plant at least one commemorative white oak in each of Ohio's 88 counties by the end of 2026. Lima's ceremony, also sponsored by the Lima Cenovus Refinery, saw the first of these trees dedicated.
"Although the 250th anniversary isn't until 2026, we are not waiting until then to get the party started," Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith, a member of the America 250-Ohio commission, said during her remarks.
Native to Ohio, a white oak is a hardy tree resistant to disease and having an average lifespan of 200 to 300 years. Organizers are hoping that as this tree grows and flourishes, it will remind them of another historic tree.
"We're thinking about the Liberty Tree that was so symbolic of the American Revolution, and so we wanted to do something a little more Ohio-style," America 250-Ohio Executive Director Todd Kleismit said. "We're thrilled to be kicking this off here today in Lima."
The Liberty Tree in Boston became a symbol of the American Revolution as it was the site of meetings for those involved in the revolution as well as the site of numerous protests, including one against the British-imposed Stamp Act in 1765. For Ohio Speaker Matt Huffman, the site of the planting also prompted him to reflect on some of Lima's local history and the impact that motivated people can have, including the example of Leo Hawk, who purchased and donated the properties that became Lima Stadium Park in 2016.
"Most great things that are happening, like what's happening here today, don't simply happen as the normal course of history," he said during his remarks. "It's because an individual or a small group of individuals decide, 'We have to do something.' That's how you get a great park like this."
Other events the America 250-Ohio commission are planning include an Ohio Creativity Trail exploring various artistic styles in the state, an Air and Space Trail commemorating the state's aviation history, and "Ohio Goes to the Movies," a program that will include screenings of various films featuring Ohio-based talent. For more information on these and other projects, go to https://bit.ly/4joAqkF.
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