First published in the Oct. 28 print issue of the San Marino Tribune.
Most at Wednesday’s ceremony vividly recalled the last time they had assembled to celebrate the planting of a tree. It was Thursday, March 12, 2020, now infamous for preceding the day the U.S. declared the coronavirus as a national emergency.
The Chinese Club of San Marino skipped 2021 altogether and even delayed this year’s ceremony so that the community could celebrate the planting of a 14-foot California sycamore to acknowledge Chinese Arbor Day.
Several directors of the Chinese Club joined the entire San Marino City Council in the ceremonial planting of the tree, located in the southwest portion of the inner oval of Lacy Park, just a few steps from a bench that was recently placed through the CCSM to honor Dr. Chang Tse-Chiang, a San Marino resident and club volunteer who taught flower arrangement.
Robert Bauman, a management analyst in the city’s Parks and Public Works Department, explained the qualities of the California sycamore, which is from a 36-inch box.
The ceremony encourages the protection of the environment while commemorating the birthday of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, founding father of the Republic of China.
San Marino school board member C. Joseph Chang represented the district at the event, as he has for more than 20 years. Louis M. Huang, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, also was on hand to acknowledge his organization’s sponsorship of the tree.
“We hope the tree planting brings more greenness and liveliness to our Lacy Park for the enjoyment of the residents and visitors,” said Maggie Lee, president of the CCSM. “What we plant today will become the shady green benefiting our next generation.”
