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Annual ‘Saluting Branches’ National Day of Service held at Fort Harrison

Posted at 10:05 PM, Sep 19, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-20 00:22:54-04

HELENA – Wednesday was the 53rd Saluting Branches National Day of Service. The event allows volunteers and arborists to give back to those who serve.

Every year, dozens of Montana volunteers and arborists donate their time to spruce up the trees around the Montana VA Hospital.

After an opening ceremony this morning volunteers provided around 300 hours worth of work doing things like removing stumps, pruning trees, and improving irrigation.

The work amounts to thousands of dollars worth of donations to to help improve the VA facility.

Guy Williams, a worker for Mount Helena Tree Experts says “I just think it’s important just to make the place look nice for the public, let alone for who’s lying here enjoying the view also.”

Jennifer Dalrymple, a volunteer for the clean up crew says “Because this is a final resting place for our veterans, and we need respect that.”

Many workers like Guy Williams and Jennifer Dalrymple also felt the importance of this project on a more personal level. Guy stated that the project was also important to him, because he has family buried there and Jennifer is a colonel.

This year volunteers came from Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula and Livingston. If you would like to volunteer next year visit here.

Reporting by Mercedies Pruneda for MTN News