Volunteers plant trees, future

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sarah Gregory
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Whether its love or just flowers, spring is the time for things to bloom. To celebrate the season of growth Aviano volunteers gave their time to help the Giais Elementary School students plant trees in the local community Saturday.

About 200 volunteers, including local residents and base members, came out to support the students of Edmondo De Amicis Elementary School in their annual tree planting tradition.

“The residents of Giais, along with the elementary school teachers and students, have been planting trees in the local community for 21 years,” said Sylvia Flores, Aviano’s Family Support Center volunteer coordinator. “They do it for the children, so they learn to take responsibility, to celebrate the environment and protect its beauty, and so the children have some natural beauty when they grow up.”

Although this is Aviano’s first year participating in the tree planting event, Ms. Flores hopes that it won’t be the last.

“One of my goals is to get Aviano more involved in off-base events, so we started calling around to schools and town mayors to ask if we could start doing some projects together,” she said. “Events like this allow us to continue strengthening the bonds between Americans and Italians, to exchange cultural ideas and to appreciate
the diversity around us.”

All together more than 50 trees were planted in the pre-Dolomite mountains of Giais. Volunteers hiked about a half hour up the mountain carrying baby trees, shovels and gloves. After the planting was finished, volunteers were treated to a hot pasta lunch, provided by the town of Giais and the Alpini group.

“I think what they’re doing is awesome and this is a great experience for everyone involved,” said Airman Jessica Maxfield, 31st Dental Squadron dental assistant. “The scenery was beautiful and we all got to see the kids enjoy themselves.”

Overall, Ms. Flores said the response from Aviano’s volunteers about the tree planting was enthusiastic.

“The feedback has been so positive and most are looking forward to doing this again next year,” she said, adding that “it’s important to support our volunteers and the various volunteer activities year-round.”