I Dig Long Beach Tree Planting at American Gold Star Manor

Dear Neighborhood Leaders and Urban Foresters –

I am happy to share that 100 new street trees are coming toWest Long Beach.  Volunteers are welcome to help plant and deeply water the trees at this socially-distanced, outdoor tree planting event.

Come help plant and water the trees!  

American Gold Star Manor Tree Planting

“For All Who Have Made Sacrifices for our Country”

Saturday, October 16, 2021

9 a.m. – noon

Meeting Location:

American Gold Star Manor

3021 Gold Star Drive

Long Beach, CA

The trees will be planted inside the American Gold Star Manor housing complex — a seniors only community – and face masks will be required.  The American Gold Star Manorwould like to invite volunteers to plant the trees in memory of beloved servicemembers.

The American Gold Star Manor is a clean, quiet, safe and very affordable senior retirement community on a 25 acres site adjacent to Santa Fe Avenue in West Long Beach.  It provides independent living for 400 Gold Star Mothers, fathers, veterans and other eligible seniors.

Here is some additional information from their website:   Gold star mothers is a term is a term that came into general use with the creation of service flags used to show that a family had lost a son or daughter in the service (a blue star) or a child that died in the service (a gold star almost covering the blue star so that a rim of the blue star still shows.)  Mothers of slain service members came to be known as gold star mothers.  The phrase is generic, and through customary usage has come to designate any mother whose child has been lost in the military.  A group of gold star mothers met in 1928 to form the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. (AGSM).  AGSM is a national, private organization that is headquartered in Washington, DC.  It has chapters all across the United States.

Would your group like to be a volunteer partner for this event?  Volunteers of all ages are welcome at this event to help plant and water these young trees.  Attached are volunteer waivers you can bring with you on planting day.

No experience is needed, we will train you.  

Can you and/or your organization serve as Water Brigade volunteers to help water the newly planted trees on planting day? Volunteers are needed to help make sure each tree is deep watered with 15 gallons on planting day to help them get off to a good start. 

Can you and/or your organization assist with watering the trees during their first year?  The Port of Long Beach and CAL FIRE have provided funding to plant 10,000 trees in Long Beach neighborhoods.  Residents, businesses and community groups partner withHousing and Neighborhood Services Bureau to provide volunteers at the tree planting events.

Would your group like to provide refreshments for the volunteers on planting day?

Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau staff will deliver all the trees and tools on planting day.  

Please feel free to call Jim Osgood at (562) 570-5221 or via email to [email protected] if you have any questions or would like additional information.

— Margaret