Nellis commemorates Arbor Day Published May 15, 2012 By Nesley Orochena 99th Civil Engineer Squadron NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Nellis' 99th Civil Engineer Squadron celebrated Arbor and Earth Day at the Lomie Gray Heard Elementary School with 300 students, teachers, and special guests. The school held an art contest where contestants created posters with the theme, "Trees Make a World of Difference." There were 15 winners from the third, fourth, and fifth grade. The poster contest was made possible by the contribution from the One Nevada Credit Union and Nellis Base Exchange. For more than five years, both institutions contributed to the event. Linda Moncrief, assistant vice president of the One Nevada Credit Union, awarded a lunch box for each recognized winner, as well as a cashier's check of $10 for two honorable mention students, $15 for third place, $20 for second, and $25 for the first place winners in each grade. Lawrence Simmons, Jr, general manager of the Nellis BX, provided two base theater tickets, one Manchu Wok Combo, one Pizza Hut personal pizza meal and one Pizza Hut personal pizza for each recognized poster winner. In addition, BX gift cards were given for $10, $15, and $20 dollars to the third, second and first place winners respectively. After the award presentation, the students watched a tree planting ceremony outside their school. Adria DeCorte from the Nevada Division of Forestry declared Nellis AFB as a Tree City USA community for the 18th consecutive year. She said the achievement is a testament of the support Nellis leadership provides to its urban forestry program. To be eligible for a Tree City USA award, a community must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. More information can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA. For additional information, please contact Mr. Nesley Orochena at (702) 652-3035.
