Courtesy photo Ellen Arnell Marcell, left, and Megan, Asch, and Brad Anderson stand together in Ludington Park after decorating trees Marcell donated through the Memorial Tree Program. Residents in the area can have a tree planted in Escanaba to honor someone or celebrate an event. The program started in Escanaba through the Public Works Department around 1980. Marcell has donated a flowering crab in honor of the birth of her son, Brad, and her grandson, Asch.

Courtesy photo
Asch and Charlotte Anderson stand by a tree planted in their honor.

ESCANABA — Escanaba is one of a large number of communities that have a Memorial Tree program. The program provides residents a way to benefit the environment while paying tribute to a person or event.

Resident Ellen Arnell Marcell, a retired psychology professor from Bay de Noc Community College, has donated four flowering crab trees to the city through Escanaba’s Memorial Tree program.

“The first tree we had planted was to honor the birth of our son, Brad Anderson,” said Marcell. “That was 40 years ago. The city was asking for people to plant trees at that time.”

Marcell has participated in the program four separate times over 40 years. When her best friend, Lorraine Srock, passed away at 92 years of age, she “adopted” Srock’s tree. In honor of her friend, Marcell started decorating the tree along with the first one she donated. When her son and daughter-in-law had Marcell’s grandson, Asch Anderson, Marcell sponsored another planting of a tree in 2008. The final tree sponsored by Marcell was in honor of her granddaughter, Charlotte Anderson.

“All of the trees are flowering crab trees,” said Marcell. “They are located in one area by the pump station across from the municipal dock. The first tree is the tallest and reflects how my son has grown so tall and strong, now at 6-feet, 7-inches.”

She has decorated each tree during the holiday season since 1994, and finds hanging a wreath on each one is the best way to decorate these days.

“Last year we had flood lights illuminating each tree, with words of peace, joy, on them … We basically followed a Christian theme each year, and this year we just have a wreath on each one,” said Marcell. “Depending on the size of the tree, it has been getting harder and harder to decorate.”

Since the Memorial Tree Program started in Escanaba, the Department of Public Works’ (DPW) “tree crew” has planted additional trees in the city limits. The tree crew, consisting of seasonal and DPW employees, maintain the city’s trees by training young trees as they grow, and pruning and monitoring older trees.

Donors can choose where to plant a tree, from parks to edges of boulevards, as long as there is room. The DPW will be able to assist in locating a place. Any type of tree may be planted, as long as it is rated for the Upper Peninsula’s climate.

To participate in Escanaba’s Memorial Tree Program, complete the application located on the city’s website, www.escanaba.org/pubworks, and mail it to City of Escanaba Memorial Tree Program, P.O. Box 948, Escanaba, Mich. 49829. For additional information regarding the program call the DPW at 906-786-1842.