Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign grows in Courtice - Clarington This Week
HUNDREDS OF TREES PLANTED AT FAREWELL CREEK TRAIL TO HONOUR THOSE WHO FOUGHT.
by Jennifer O'Meara - Clarington This Week
A special oak tree descended from a Vimy Ridge acorn was planted in honour of Major Chris Mariner. His brother Paul Mariner and mother Lyn Mariner-Duffield, told Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign co-founder Mark Cullen the tribute meant a lot to their family so close to the 20th anniversary of Major Mariner’s death. - Jennifer O'Meara
CLARINGTON — Along the Farewell Creek Trail in Courtice, 300 new trees were planted as a living tribute to Canadians who have served their country in times of conflict.
“We’re planting trees for the Highway of Heroes,” said Joe Jorgensen, who volunteered to help plant trees with his 16-month-old son Hunter. “If you want to save the world, plant a tree.”
The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign launched four years ago as a remembrance and environmental initiative — to plant two million trees as a living, breathing tribute to those who have served Canada in times of conflict. There will be 117,000 of the trees planted along the Highway of Heroes — Highway 401 between Trenton and Toronto — to honour those Canadians who have fallen in war since Confederation.
“We plant trees today to honour those who fought for us, for Canada,” said Mark Cullen, Canada’s gardening guru, and chair and co-founder of the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign. “Our goal is to convert this special roadway into a living memorial.”