US Navy 040422-N-3019M-001 Sailors assigned to Pearl Harbor Security Detachment help plant a Ku Kui tree at Webling Elementary School in honor of Earth Day (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Most children receive a tree in elementary school in honor of Earth Day. This year, Earth Day is on Sunday, April 22.
I was recently walking in my yard and noticed a lone pine tree growing in the middle of an open area in our woods. It wasn’t very big and is a little lopsided. My dad told me that it was one of the trees I brought home for Earth Day in elementary school. I didn’t pick the best location for the tree to be planted, but nevertheless, it survived! It has grown since then; however, now as much I expected. It’s only a little over 6 feet and it was planted over 10 years ago.
According to Earth Day Network’s website, Earth Day began in 1970. Here is a brief excerpt about the history of Earth Day from its website:
“The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Growing out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network (EDN) works with over 22,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.”
Earth Day reminds us that Earth’s natural resources are precious and limited. It allows us to take a step back and realize the destruction humans have caused. We need to take better care of the Earth, its animals, and natural resources.
So this Earth Day, go out and plant a tree or help pick up some trash to help restore Earth to its natural beauty.
Do you or your family do anything special for Earth Day? Do you remember receiving trees to plant in elementary school? Do you remember or visit that tree to see how it has grown?
