Earth Day: Ramstein sows seeds

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Milton Hamilton
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The 86th Civil Engineer Squadron’s installation environment management department provided approximately 500 oak trees to 60 service members and their families for an Earth Day tree planting event at Ramstein Air Base, April 20.

In the U.S., the 2021 Earth Day theme is “Restore Our Earth.” Bringing attention to natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems. The newly planted oak tree seeds will take a few years to grow into a sapling tree, but will eventually produce its own acorns and could live for hundreds of years.

“It is up to each and every one of us to restore our Earth not just because we care about the natural world, but because we live on it,” said Anna Lessire, 86th CES installation management environmental chief. “We all need a healthy earth to support our jobs, livelihoods, health, survival, and happiness. A healthy planet is not an option, it is a necessity.”

Several children were among those who helped to plant seeds along the forest line.

“I brought my daughter here today to teach her the importance of taking care of our Earth, for her and her sisters' future and their children’s future,” said Kate Reier, U.S. Air Force spouse.

Participants on base are part of a larger like-minded community. More than a billion people in 192 countries now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

“Rising temperatures caused by climate change are threatening our installation forest areas,” said Lessire. “Severe droughts and many dry summers in the past years have left trees vulnerable to bark beetles and other illnesses. Ramstein Air Base is very busy and has new construction, so we would like to give back to Mother Earth and plant new trees.”