Nearly 500 members of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, Fairfax, Virginia, gathered on July 17 at Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall to volunteer, installing plants, protecting historic trees, enhancing turf and improving irrigation systems at NALP’s annual Renewal & Remembrance event.
“Landscape and lawn care professionals love to give back, and the annual Renewal & Remembrance event allows them to use their horticulture skills to care for some of America’s most important green spaces,” says NALP CEO Britt Wood.
Ewing representatives used the event as an opportunity to thank employees who previously served in the military or as first responders in their local communities. They were nominated by their territory president or department head. “We worked at Arlington on Monday and visited a few of the iconic sites in D.C. on the mall on Tuesday,” says Aaron Budimlija, executive vice president of business development at Ewing. Ewing has participated in this way in 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“It is always humbling to have the opportunity to work in Arlington with veterans among so many departed veterans and so many who gave their full measure of devotion to our nation,” says Budimlija. “The 639-acre level III arboretum is truly breathtaking.”
During this year’s service project on the National Mall, volunteers installed woodchips around tree stands near the Washington Monument and at the Tidal Basin, as well as renovated turf near the Washington Monument. The projects at Arlington National Cemetery included top dressing turf, restoring irrigation, installing lightning protection on designated trees, and various hardscape and landscape installation projects.
Volunteers overcame significant heat to accomplish the event’s mission. “Close to 100 degrees with humidity in the 70s made it feel like 115 degrees by lunchtime,” said Budimlija.
In addition, NALP once again hosted a Children’s Program at Arlington National Cemetery. “Based on the briefing I attended for ANC projects on Sunday evening, I would say at least 1/3 of the volunteers were attending the event for the first time,” says Wood. “Giving back is important, and I am happy that NALP organizes such a great event and opportunity to participate for the green industry. If you have never attended, I suggest you do it, but sign up early — registration fills up fast each year.”
Renewal & Remembrance was supported by many industry companies that donated their time or equipment, including lead partners Aspire Software, Caterpillar, John Deere, Greenworks Commercial, New Holland Construction and SiteOne Landscape Supply.
