NOTE:  Follow along on our progress on the project here on the Highland Outdoor blog, or in real time via our Highland Outdoor Twitter feed:  www.twitter.com/highlandoutdoor

On Earth Day 2009, a PLANET Day of Service for the landscaping, design/build and lawn care industry is dedicating over 90 volunteers, who will donate 900 hours of service, $40,000 worth of labor and materials to beautify the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, in Kansas City, Missouri.   Local lawn, tree, and landscape companies will spend the day beautifying the grounds to enhance and upgrade the park and facility.

“The PLANET Day of Service is a nationwide event for the landscaping, design/build and lawn care industry and includes over 240 “Green” industry companies dedicated to beautify their local communities on Earth Day,” remarked Jason Cupp, President of PLANET, and CEO of Highland Outdoor, located in Olathe, KS.

Highland Outdoor and PBI/Gordon along with Signature Landscape, RS Unlimited, Helena Chemical, Kelly’s Lime, Arbor Master Tree Service, Kokopelli’s Nursery, C.S. Carey, and over 90 volunteers are donating time and money to beautifying one of the historic treasures of the world, the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial on Earth Day 2009.  PLANET also beautifies the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. through its annual event, “Renewal & Remembrance.”

The Liberty Memorial beautification project includes tuning up the sprinkler system, the delivery of one ton of Kelly’s palletized lime for the turf, mulch for the project, tree trimming and pruning as well as replacing trees which must be historically accurate and the appropriate size to fit in with existing trees.

“When Doug Obermann, with PBI/Gordon Corporation, contacted me about a group of lawn and landscape professionals who wanted to donate their time and money to the park, I welcomed them,” remarked Russell Gardner, who manages the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial’s 26 acre site.

The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial was designated by Congress as the nation’s official World War I Museum.  The primary focus of the National World War I Museum is to honor the memory and sacrifices of those who served their country and defended liberty during World War I. The new state-of-the-art complex opened in 2006 and uses interactive technology to bring history to life.

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Kathy Hanis – (913) 271-5101
EPlus PR

Highland Outdoor is a high-end residential design/build, landscape and maintenance company serving the Midwest, with its Corporate Headquarters in Kansas City.  For more information on Highland Outdoor, visit www.highland-outdoor.com.

PBI/Gordon is an active force in the lawn and garden industry, a marketer of agricultural products and an innovator of professional turf and ornamental products, with their Corporate Headquarters in Kansas City.  For more information on PBI/Gordon, visit www.pbigordon.com.

PLANET – The Professional Landcare Network – the national association for 4,000 Lawn Care, Landscape Maintenance, Design/Build and Interior Plantscaping companies.  For more information on PLANET, visit www.landcarenetwork.com