Nation's birthday marked with Liberty Tree planting ceremony

A Liberty Tree planting ceremony Saturday at Botts Park. Saturday was also Armed Forces Day.

The tulip poplar tree was unveiled in celebration of the nation's 250th birthday this year and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Lucile Hardin of the DAR led the service that was attended by about 40 people.

Hardin encouraged the public to have pictures made with the tree at special occasions such as graduations and reunions.

Several people at the event had their pictures taken with the tree, which had several flags surrounding it to mark the occasion.

Hardin spoke, as did Mt. Sterling Mayor Al Botts and Judge-Executive Chris Haddix.

Botts and Haddix said the planting of the tree was a wonderful gesture to mark the nation's anniversary.

Barry Frazier and Ken Darnell of the Montgomery County Historical Society led a group dressed in period costume for the event.

Patriotic songs and the pledge of allegiance were observed.

The community will celebrate the nation's birthday with a special Gateway 250 event July 4 on the Montgomery County High School campus.

The event will culminate with a fireworks show at dusk.

The event will be free to the public.

Donations, however, are being accepted at the judge-executive's office at the Courthouse Annex and any Community Trust drive-through.

The Kentucky Historical Society, The Kentucky Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Kentucky Division of Forestry and the Gateway 250 Planning Committee hosted the Liberty Tree Project planting ceremony at Botts Park in Mt. Sterling and it was one of many such ceremonies taking place in all 120 Kentucky counties.

The tulip poplar tree is meant to serve as a living symbol of freedom, resilience and environmental stewardship. Hardin previously said, “The Daughters of the American Revolution have had a presence through their work in Mt. Sterling and Montgomery County since at least 1929. It is a joy to extend our volunteerism to a celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary and the signing of the Declaration of Independence”.