FORT SMITH, Ark. — More than 4,000 people across the country came together today donating a full day of lawn and tree care at veteran hospitals, homes, and cemeteries.
Volunteers were hard at work at Fort Smith National Cemetery as part of the effort, joining organization Saluting Branches.
Rex Archer, a site leader for Saluting Branches, said this is the third year for the effort in Fort Smith.
"This is our third time here in Fort Smith National Cemetery. We network with a lot of arborists and landscape guys all over the Northwest Arkansas area within, you know, 100 miles or so. And we come here to do a day of service for our veterans," Archer said.
The group worked to make some of the potentially hazardous trees safer.
"A lot of dead wood in them. We're trying to make them safe for the families that come out here," Archer explained. "We've got a removal over there. That's a hazard removal we're doing with the crane."
On top of the hazard removal, volunteers participated in structural trimming to not only preserve the cemetery but the trees as well.
"These trees are probably 20 years old that we're trying to preserve and get them in shape for the for their next go around," Archer said.
Jake Braswell of Over The Top Tree Service out of Huntsville said that the event is all about the veterans.
"My grandfather and up were all veterans, and they all served, so it means a lot to me to be out here and be able to do something for them," Braswell said.
"Nobody gets paid to do this. We come and do it because we like to honor our veterans. It's a one day nationwide that we do, that we do this," Archer added.
Jonathon Motsenbocker of Rick's Tree Service out of Booneville said it's also about enhancing the experience for families of fallen veterans.
"It's good, good to come out and help out with the national cemetery to keep it clean and looking right for the veterans and the families that come out and visit this place often."
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