Moorestown residents celebrated Arbor Day in a big way Friday morning at the Perkins Arboretum by planting a "Space Shuttle Tree"—an Eastern White Pine that had its seeds flown on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997. 

Lee Renner, vice president of the Moorestown Garden Club, welcomed the best attendance in recent years. Mayor Button read a proclamation from town council and led the Pledge of Alligiance. Ed Armstead (Moorestown Improvement Association) gave the history of Arbor Day and second grade students from Baker School performed a special "space shuttle" rendition of "The Green Grass Grows All Around."  

John Gibson, chairman of the Tree Planting and Preservation Committee, spoke about the Tree City USA Award, the history of the Space Shuttle Tree and showed a plaque, which will commemorate the tree. Representatives of the township and sponsoring organizations did the ceremonial tree planting. Then the Baker students each got to shovel some dirt at its base.  

Many thanks to the sponsors: the Moorestown Garden Club, the Moorestown Improvement Association, Moorestown Township, the Tree Planting and Preservation Committee and Public Works, and to the students, teachers and parents from Baker School and all who attended.