620,000 Trees Being Planted For Fallen Civil War Soldiers

With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War approaching, the Journey through Hallowed Ground Partnership has launched its Living Legacy Project to honor the soldiers who perished in the war.

The project will see a tree dedicated or planted “for each man who died in the line of duty from 1861 through 1865,” according to the Military Times. The trees will line a 180-mile stretch of the byway between Gettysburg, Pa., and Charlottesville, Va.

Shuan Butcher, the organization’s director of communications, says 1,500 trees already have been planted or dedicated, and the goal is to have all 620,000 grown to maturity by the time the country honors the bicentennial of the Civil War in 50 years.

“It would be great to see 620,000 trees in bloom and really contributing to not only the landscape in terms of beautification, but honoring the individuals who fell for the cause and fell for what they believed in,” he told the Military Times.

The Military Times reported that each tree costs the project approximately $100, “which includes site preparation, planting/dedication and lifetime maintenance.” Keep Reading