Pembroke celebrated Arbor Day on Friday a bit later than planned, but that didn’t dampen spirits as Mayor Mary Warnell welcomed guests, including members of the Pembroke Garden Club, volunteers who serve on various city committees and boards, and city employees.
The event was pushed back a week due to bad weather. It was highlighted by recognition of Pembroke’s 10th year as a Tree City.
The city received a flag and engraved crystal award in recognition of the achievement, which is cosponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.
Pembroke is among 3,080 cities, towns and military bases in all 50 states registered as Tree Cities, said Warnell, who also gave a brief history of Arbor Day, which was founded by J. Sterling Morton in 1872 in Nebraska City, Neb.
Sterling served as secretary of the Department of Agriculture under President Grover Cleveland. His home, a 52-room mansion, is a replica of the White House and is now Arbor Lodge State Historical Park in Nebraska City.

Read full story in March 1 issue of Bryan County News.