On Friday, November 10th, Veterans Day, a group of 10 certified arborists and tree care specialists from Emerald Tree and Shrub Care donated their time to improve the conditions of New York City’s oldest soldier’s cemetery, West Farms Soldier Cemetery. Kevin W. Wyatt, of Emerald Tree and Shrub Care, was working at a neighboring NYC park months ago, when he recognized the poor neglected state of the cemetery trees. He immediately reached out to the cemetery’s managing group, Partnerships for Parks, and offered to have his team donate their time to restore the grounds where 40 veterans that have served in 4 different wars are buried.
The crew arrived on site at 7:30am and immediately got to work removing dead wood and pruning back branches to improve the strength and health of a large number of Oak and Locust trees scattered throughout the grounds. Each grave was adorned by an American Flag to indicate that a veteran was laid to rest there. Kevin, a Master Arborist and history buff said “I could not think of a better way to spend Veteran’s Day than to be performing long overdue tree pruning and revitalizing at one of the burial grounds of our War Veterans.”
West Farm Soldier Cemetery, located on 180th street in the Bronx, just south of the Bronx Zoo, typically sees an increase in visits from family and friends on the weekend following Veterans Day. What great timing to have the grounds looking clean, safe and back in a state of beauty.
Since launching in 1996, Emerald Tree and Shrub Care has had a niche for performing tree care in some of the areas most prominent cemeteries. Cemeteries requires specialized tree care that preserves and protects the tombstones, mausoleums, monuments and other historical structures. Emerald’s crew of certified arborists have developed a specialized approach using techniques that prevent damage and keep cemetery grounds in pristine condition throughout the year.
