September 29, 2015

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In honor of Saluting Branches, 12 volunteer tree care company partner organizations, 14 tree crews, and over 50 volunteers from across Upstate New York today joined together at the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery to commemorate the brave men and women who serve and have served in the U.S. military.

A volunteer project of central New York Arborists, Saluting Branches is an industry-wide service project that provides tree care professionals throughout the area an opportunity to unite in a National Day of Service through providing exceptional tree care to keep veterans cemeteries safe and beautiful places for all those who visit.

'Working with Veterans and their families every day is very rewarding because I see firsthand how appreciative they are of the assistance we provide,' said Veterans Service Agency Director Corliss Dennis. 'Seeing all the tree professionals here volunteering their time at our Veterans cemetery truly means a lot to the families who come here to pay their respects to those who served our country so bravely.'

Saluting Branches is a program supported by Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance and designed to demonstrate a deep appreciation for U.S. service members and their sacrifices that make it possible for us to have the freedoms we enjoy every day.

“We started planning this project early this spring. We thought we’d have a handful of volunteers,” said Daniel Curry, site lead, Saluting Branches. “Six months later we have over a dozen companies and over 50 volunteers who all joined together to make this project a reality. Certainly, there are many people to be thanked, however the real thanks goes to those men and women we leave here today, those that remain here forever.”

Formally dedicated on May 30, 1987, the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery honors Onondaga County residents and family members who dedicated portions of their lives to the military and defense of our nation. Since the first burial of decorated World War II Navy veteran Leo McInerney on June 11, 1986, the cemetery has performed services for more than 5,000 service members from the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force, including visionary Onondaga County Legislators Jack Haley and Jim Salanger as well as legendary paratrooper/Syracuse University football coach Ben Schwartzwalder.

The 52 acre Veterans Cemetery grounds have been enhanced by additions of a Memorial Garden in 1998 and enlarged Chapel in 2000, with recent expansion necessary to provide a fitting final resting place for veterans today and those who will serve in the future.

'It is with great pride, that we welcome the 'Saluting Branches' volunteers to the Onondaga County Veterans Cemetery. The services provided will assist us in our efforts to provide a beautiful space for our Veterans and their families,' said Onondaga County Parks Commissioner Bill Lansley. Over 250 National Grid employee volunteers are supporting Saluting Branches initiatives in the company’s upstate New York and New England service areas. National Grid employees strive to integrate care for the environment in every business decision and daily operation.

National Grid employs 426 veterans and 91 reservists. With a proud tradition of volunteering, a big focus on sustainability and the company’s participation in Troops to Energy Jobs program. National Grid supports veterans’ events in the many communities it serves. From the largest to the smallest, these events have a lasting impact on National Grid employee volunteers and the communities where they live and work.

“National Grid is proud to assist in this effort through its employee volunteer organizations,” said Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid regional executive of Central New York. “National Grid is a longtime supporter of environmental conservation and volunteer activities that support the communities we serve. We are committed to making a positive and lasting contribution to the region and keeping alive the legacy of U.S. service members who continue to make it possible for us to have the freedoms we enjoy every day and for generations to come.”

Participating volunteer partner organizations in the Syracuse Saluting Branches initiative include:

Affordable Tree & Lawn Care

All American Tree Service

Bartlett Tree Experts

City of Syracuse

DC Tree

Griffin Tree Service

Michael Grimm Services

Lewis Tree Service, Inc.

National Grid

Nelson Tree Service, Inc.

Pinnacle Tree

Rick Turk Tree Service, Inc.

Stump-n-Tree Service

Treelanders Tree Service

Walker Tree Care

About National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.

Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).

For more information please visit our website, or our Connecting website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, find our photos on Instagram