2,300 VFW Posts Honor America's Veterans through Operation Silent Witness

American Forests
Thursday, 24 May 2001

As Americans celebrate 225 years of freedom and democracy, more than 2,300 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts across the country will honor the nation's veterans by launching Operation Silent Witness. From Memorial Day to the anniversary of D-day (June 6), members of the VFW and other public figures will begin planting Dwight D. Eisenhower Green Ash Trees, the official tree of the National WWII Memorial in Washington D.C.

Operation Silent Witness will kicks off today with a national tree-planting ceremony in Kansas City on the grounds of People to People International, a nonprofit organization founded by President Eisenhower to enhance tolerance and understanding among all people. Operation Silent Witness is the largest memorial tree-planting effort in the history of American Forests, the nation's oldest non-profit conservation organization.

"These majestic trees have stood as silent witnesses to history," said Mary Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Eisenhower and chief executive officer of People to People International. "Now they will stand in our cities and towns as lasting memorials to those 16 million soldiers in uniform during World War II, and to all who have served in the military and on the home front to preserve our freedom."

The nationwide effort is organized by the VFW Foundation, American Forests, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and The Scotts Company to provide Eisenhower Green Ash Trees for planting in parks, community areas and at veterans' memorials between May 24 and June 6. The trees are authentic direct offspring of a green ash tree that grows at the birthplace of President Eisenhower in Denison, Texas. As a tribute to President Eisenhower's role as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during World War II, the Eisenhower Green Ash Tree has been named the official tree of the National World War II Memorial.

"Throughout our country's history, millions of citizens have courageously answered their nation's call to duty," said John Gwizdak, commander-in-chief of VFW and chairman of the board for the VFW Foundation. "It is with great pride and unwavering support from Wal-Mart, The Scotts Company, American Forests, and People to People International that we are able to reach across the United States to honor those great Americans who served our country with so much dignity, integrity, and pride."

Based in Kansas City, MO., with legislative offices in Washington, D.C. the VFW was founded in 1899 in Columbus, Ohio, following the Spanish-American War. Formed of two separate organizations representing veterans of Cuba and the Philippines, the VFW has since become the foremost veterans lobbyist group. Indeed, the VFW has been ranked as the nation's 16th most influential lobbying group by Fortune magazine. In addition to protecting veterans' rights, the VFW provides services to military personnel overseas through Operation Uplink, provides $2.7 million in scholarships through its Voice of Democracy program, and each year contributes 12 million hours of community service through the efforts of its 2 million members. To lead veterans and the organization into the 21st century, the VFW has established four key legislative initiatives: mandated long-term care for America's veterans, adequate VA funding, approval of a new GI Bill for the 21st century, and safeguarding defense readiness and the well-being of our Armed Forces.

Eisenhower Green Ash Trees are grown by American Forests, the oldest nonprofit conservation organization in the nation. American Forests was founded in 1875 and is dedicated to planting trees for environmental restoration. Many trees with historic significance are propagated and used to teach history and environmental appreciation. Eisenhower Green Ash Trees are available for sale to consumers at all Wal-Mart stores. Visit www.americanforests.org for more information and to order a free Famous & Historic Trees catalogue.

Last year Wal-Mart associates raised and contributed more than $190 million to support communities and local non-profit organizations, including a $14.7 million contribution to the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. In addition, for the second consecutive year, Americans named Wal-Mart as the company they think of first in supporting local causes and issues, according to Cone, Inc. More information about Wal-Mart's "Good.Works." community involvement is available online at www.walmartfoundation.org.

The Scotts Company, founded in Marysville, Ohio in 1868, produces and markets products for lawn and garden care throughout the world. The Eisenhower Green Ash Trees have been given a healthy start with Scotts products used at the American Forests' nursery in Jacksonville, Fla. Scotts supports this and other community greenup efforts through its corporate caring initiative "Give Back to Grow". Scotts industry-leading brands include Scotts ®, Miracle-Gro®, Osmocote®, Ortho® and Roundup®.

People to People International (PTPI) was founded in 1956 by President Eisenhower as a nonprofit, humanitarian, cultural and educational exchange organization dedicated to advancing international understanding and friendship through the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among the world's peoples. PTPI has 200 chapters worldwide and more than 30,000 members. To learn more about PTPI, visit www.ptpi.org.

For more information, or to contact American Forests, see their website at: www.americanforests.org