They are a vital part of any community, yet they are often taken for granted. They give us shade, clean our air and make our yards look great. Of course, we are talking about trees, and last week Jacksonville celebrated them in a big way.

Jacksonville’s Arbor Day celebration and ceremonial tree planting on kicked off the festivities last Thursday. The event was held at the Glenwood Meadows Boys and Girls Club. The kids of the club performed skits and recited poems before getting to plant trees donated by Blooming Miracles. Jacksonville Mayor Johnny Smith was in attendance and gave a proclamation for Arbor Day.

“Trees add so much to the quality of life for Jacksonville residents,” said the mayor.

Tory Green was the guest speaker for the event. Green was selected from among more than three million Eagle Scouts to give the State of Scouting Address to Congress and meet the President and First Lady.

“I was chosen out of three million people,” said Green. “And I want to tell you that you can be one in a million, too. You can do whatever you set your mind to.”

Green encouraged the kids at the Boys and Girls Club to try to do one good thing a day.

“Whether it’s respecting your parents or being a leader, there are many ways to do good,” said Green. “Albert Einstein once said ‘Only a life lived for others is a life worth living.’”

At the event, Jacksonville’s Tree Committee Chair, Kenny Griffin, presented Truman Norred with the Johnny Appleseed Award.

“He has demonstrated a life time of serving this community,” said Griffin. ”Not only in planting trees, but having the forethought in making our community better. He has been involved ministering to the community for many years and has lead the way for parks forming around Jacksonville.”

Friday, the tree festivities continued with a Tree Give-Away that was held at the Jacksonville Square. Alabama Power and the Alabama Forestry Commission provided trident maples, redbuds, flowering crabapples, dogwoods, oaks and other species. Residents were able to stop by and pick up some trees to plant for free. Volunteers from Jacksonville’s Garden Club and Tree Commission helped residents lacking green thumbs with their tree planting questions.

Part of the reason for all the celebration, the city of Jacksonville was accepted as a Tree City U.S.A. According to their website, The Tree City U.S.A. program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. It provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 135 million Americans call home.