A White Oak was planted Thursday near the Garfield Memorial at Lake View Cemetery during a ceremony tied to America 250-Ohio, which is placing a White Oak in each of Ohio's 88 counties to mark the state's role in the nation's founding.
Lake View Cemetery, located where Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland meet, was chosen as Cuyahoga County's Heritage Tree site. Organizers noted the cemetery is an accredited arboretum and holds the graves of generations of civic, military and community leaders.
Kathy Goss, the cemetery's president and CEO, said planting a Swamp White Oak there creates a living symbol of the country's strength, endurance and growth. County Executive Chris Ronayne said current residents are paying it forward for those who will sit in the tree's shade decades from now.
Among officials listed as attending were County Council president Dale Miller, State Sen. Nickie Antonio, Cleveland urban forestry commissioner Phil Jubert, Cleveland Heights Mayor Jim Petras, Lubrizol Foundation representative Elizabeth Grove, America 250-Ohio ambassador Michael Brennan and Lake View Cemetery Foundation director Tim Garfield. Lubrizol Foundation sponsors Heritage Trees: Planting History.
Organizers said the White Oak was picked because it is native to Ohio, supports keystone species and has proven durable over time. Some of Ohio's oldest living White Oaks are estimated at 500 to 600 years old, including trees in Logan and at Sugarcreek MetroPark near Dayton.