More than 400 volunteers armed with heavy equipment and full hearts descended on Fort Logan National Cemetery to honor those buried there with a day of service.
The volunteers, licensed arborists, tree climbers, forestry workers and landscape professionals from as far away as Cheyenne, Wyoming, came with bucket trucks, stump grinders, shovels, and saws as part of Saluting Branches , the largest single-day service event in the forestry industry dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans.
Lakewood Forestry Supervisor Luke Killoran led the annual Herculean effort on Sept. 18 and has been the project site leader for the past four years.
“It’s incredibly unique and rewarding that we have such a large volunteer base of participants in the community who are willing to donate their time, services, and resources,” Killoran said. “It’s the only event in our industry where competitors set aside pride, work together as a team, and collectively give back to a cause.”
And give back they did.