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NEWS Contact: Vicki Bendure, APR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (540) 687-3360 or
Lisa Schaumann
(540) 687-5099

PROFESSIONAL LANDCARE NETWORK DONATES SERVICES
TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AND HISTORIC
CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY AND VISITS CAPITOL HILL
— A $300,000 Environmental Gift to the American People —

HERNDON, Va., July 24, 2007 — The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) held their most successful “Renewal & Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery and Historic Congressional Cemetery” event on Monday, July 16, 2007.

More than 400 volunteers from across the nation brought their crews to Arlington National and Historic Congressional cemeteries and spent the day mulching, caring for and cabling trees with lightning protection, pruning, liming, planting, and aerating as well as installing an irrigation system at Arlington National Cemetery. This gift is valued at more than $300,000 in services and work.

“This was an opportunity for us to demonstrate our professional skills and care for two important American monuments,” stated PLANET President Jim Martin, CLP. Many PLANET members have special connections at the cemeteries either through relatives and friends who are buried there or through their own military service.

The day began at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony featuring a joint color guard and speaker presentations that dedicated the day of work to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The children of PLANET members planted flowers and presented a wreath to the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“This is PLANET’s most significant project this year,” notes Tom Shotzbarger, CLP, CLT, CTP, COLP, CTP-CSL, a PLANET member and the chairman of the event. “The natural beauty and quiet grace of Arlington National Cemetery make it a place that we feel compelled to protect and take care of. This extremely worthwhile, meaningful project demonstrates our honor and remembrance of America’s veterans and leaders.” Shotzbarger also noted that this event, in its 11th year, was the largest ever held. “We began working on Friday because there was so much more to do than in years past,” Shotzbarger explained. More than 1,400 trees, bedding plants and shrubs were planted.

On Tuesday, July 17, PLANET and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) members visited their congressional leaders on Capitol Hill and spoke with them about issues facing the green industry, including comprehensive immigration reform. This Legislative Day on the Hill event was held by PLANET and TCIA.

PLANET THANKS ITS PARTICIPATING COMPANIES, SPONSORS, AND DONORS!

PARTICIPATING COMPANIES:
….
Highland Outdoor
….
PLATINUM SPONSORS:
Bayer Environmental Science
Husqvarna
Syngenta Professional Products

GOLD SPONSORS:
Dow AgroSciences
IMERYS
John Deere
John Deere Landscapes/LESCO
Nufarm Turf & Specialty

SILVER SPONSORS:
BASF Corporation
FMC Corporation
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
Vermeer Manufacturing

BRONZE SPONSORS:
The Andersons, Inc.
Helena Chemical Company
MAS Labor (Mid-Atlantic Solutions, Inc.)
PBI Gordon Corp.
Workforce Advantage

DONORS:
Angelica Nurseries, Inc.
Arbor Landscapers, Inc.
K&H Lawn Services, Inc
Manor View Farm
Premier Tech Biotechnologies
Riverbend Nursery
Shemin Nurseries, Inc.
The Tankard Nurseries
Wentworth Nursery

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With more than 4,200 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals.

For more information, visit www.LandcareNetwork.org, or call the PLANET office at (800) 395-2522.

To find a PLANET professional in your area, visit www.LandcareNetwork.org/findaprofessional, or call the PLANET office at
(800) 395-2522.

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