Armed forces tribute in Ottawa

The LO Lawn Care Commodity Group and the Ottawa Chapter invite all industry members to honour our armed forces by volunteering services, products and/or manpower to help maintain the beauty of Canada’s National Military Cemetery in a one-day blitz.

Housed in Beechwood Cemetery(www.beechwoodcemetery.com), the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces is a place of tree-lined winding roads with many ornamental plantings among the monuments. Beechwood Cemetery was founded in 1873 and is an oasis of elegance, dignity and peace in the heart of Ottawa.

Chris Lemcke, of the Lawn Care Commodity Group explains the first annual Day of Tribute came about last year in honour of the Year of the Veteran. “Helping to maintain the environmental health of our National Military Cemetery is our way of giving back to those who have defended our country and our freedom,” he says. “This year it is particularly appropriate in light of the sacrifices our armed forces are making in Afghanistan.”

After a brief opening ceremony at this year’s Day of Tribute, teams will be organized to aerate, fertilize, seed, apply gypsum, prune, mulch and plant. Work should be complete by early afternoon.
“We had a great response last year,” says Lemcke. “And we’re looking for even more participation this year. There are some very large old maples in the cemetery that need pruning, so we’re hoping some arborists with bucket trucks will join us, as well as anyone else who wants to pay tribute to our veterans and military personnel.”
The Day of Tribute 2006 will be held on October 19, with October 20 as alternate date in case of an internment. For more information, or to volunteer products or services, please contact
Chris Lemcke