Written By: 1st Lt Diana Layton
The local Civil Air Patrol squadron celebrated the one-year anniversary of planting the NASA Moon Tree (sweet gum) by hosting an event at Brighton Park on November 15.
Captain John Banks, local squadron commander, gave a short speech thanking those in attendance and also reminded everyone of the importance of the tree being planted to encourage aerospace education in local students, now and future. The squadron encourages everyone to visit the tree at Brighton Park to see the new plaque placed in front of it.
Potomac Highlands Composite Squadron was one of many organizational groups that applied to receive an Artemis Moon Tree. When it comes to the Moon Trees, NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement partnered with U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Services to fly five species of tree seeds aboard Artemis I as part of a national STEM Engagement and conservation education initiative. Through NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) and NASA’s Artifact Module, museums, federal agencies, K-12 serving organizations and more were invited to apply for ownership of a Moon Tree seedling. Captain John Banks III, Commander of Potomac Highlands Composite Squadron, jumped through hoops, filled out paperwork, met with Hardy County Park employees and more to make this amazing experience come to light.
Captain Banks got word in September 2024 that Potomac Highlands Composite Squadron had been chosen as one of the lucky recipients. The Artemis Moon Tree made its final transport to Hardy County on October 24, 2024, and was planted just a few hours later at Brighton Park in Moorefield, WV. To find out more about all the exciting accomplishments Potomac Highlands Composite Squadron has made, join PHCS for a meeting on Thursdays at 6:30pm, located at 400 Airport Road in Petersburg.
