Transmission foresters Richard Karber, Kristalle Wadsworth, and Joshua Douglass joined other volunteers in mid-September at Marion National Cemetery in Indiana to honor veterans through Saluting Veterans 25, a one-day event in the tree-care industry that gives back uniquely to those who served.
Members of Transmission’s Forestry team recently had the unique opportunity to honor veterans and give back in the most solemn and respectful of environments.
Indiana-based foresters Kristalle Wadsworth, Joshua Douglass, and Richard Karber volunteered their efforts in September at Saluting Branches 2025, a one-day volunteer event in the tree care industry dedicated to honoring veterans by improving the landscapes of veterans' dedicated spaces across the U.S. and beyond.
The trio was part of a group of volunteers at Marion National Cemetery in Marion, Indiana (50 miles southwest of Fort Wayne) who trimmed and safely removed trees that were endangering headstones and/or jeopardizing the public’s safety. It was one of about 100 sites hosting a Saluting Branches event this year, a list that included VA hospitals, veterans' memorials, clinics, and several other national cemeteries.
“My father was a veteran as well as my uncles, who served in WWII,” Wadsworth said. “I am humbled every time we do Saluting Branches, by the veterans, the cemetery, and all who provide a service to the country.”
Since its founding in 2015, which began at just a single location in Minnesota, Saluting Branches has grown into a nationwide movement of environmental service and veteran appreciation. The 2025 event continues the organization’s mission to create safe, beautiful, and respectful spaces dedicated to our nation’s heroes. Since its inception, the event has contributed around $4.5 million in donated services and thousands of volunteer hours.
volunteer hours.
“Everyone who was part of Saluting Branches in Marion left the cemetery that day with a sense of accomplishment and national pride," said Transmission forester Joshua Douglass.
By caring for trees and landscapes in areas that honor and serve veterans, volunteers improve the appearance and safety of the properties, which are important symbols of our nation's history and service. Additionally, the event provides an opportunity for the tree care industry to give back and make a positive impact in their communities.
“I became emotional when reading the Saluting Branches opening proclamation,” Karber said. “It was very humbling.”
Read the proclamation and learn more about Saluting Branches.
Volunteers at the September 17 Saluting Branches 25 effort in Marion, Indiana trimmed and removed trees at the national cemetery that were endangering headstones and putting the public's safety at risk.