Renewing and Remembering

With the Pentagon construction looming in the distance, lawn care professionals volunteered their time and energy on a hot, humid July morning for the 6th annual Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) Renewal & Remembrance event. By mid-afternoon on July 22, 90 acres of turf had been treated with lime at Arlington, with an additional 37 acres at nearby Congressional cemetery. Totaling 127 acres in just under four hours, this year’s acre total is the highest ever for the association, said Phil Fogarty, project coordinator for this year’s Renewal & Remembrance.

The event began with a brief dedication ceremony at Arlington honoring the victims of the September 11th tragedy, and continued with remarks from guest speaker Steve Johnson, EPA assistant administrator, office of prevention, pesticides and toxic substances. “We’re still in a state of mourning in the United States,” he said, pointing out that many of the September 11 victims are buried at Arlington. “We thank you for honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11.”

Additional speakers included fire chief Charles Campbell from Fort Myer, Va., and PLCAA member and battalion firefighter for the New York City Fire Department, Battalion #22, Staten Island, N.Y., Vincent Tummino. Campbell, as well as Tummino, who formerly worked for a Lawn Doctor franchise in Sayreville, N.J., both were involved in recovery efforts after 9/11 and recognized PLCAA members for their contributions at Arlington. “There are many different types of heroes,” Tummino stated. “PLCAA members are heroes to the family members of those buried here.”

After the ceremony ended, lawn care professionals and PLCAA members spread out on the Arlington grounds, spreading lime and totaling approximately $40,000 worth of volunteer work.

The author is Assistant Editor – Internet of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at kmohn@lawnandlandscape.com.