The Town of Herndon packed as much celebrating as possible into last Saturday. During a joint Earth Day/Arbor Day event at Runnymede Park, soon-to-retire Councilman John De Noyer received special recognition for his efforts to keep Herndon blooming.
"He has just been Mr. Green here in Herndon," said state Del. Tom Rust (R-86) of De Noyer. "John has done so much for this community. John and Ann [Csonka], they are partners in life and without them, we would not have this park."
During the day-long celebration, visitors heard the history of Earth Day from keynote speaker Nancy Chamberlain, recreation and parks dean of Northern Virginia Community College, and saw the town presented with a 15-year Tree City USA flag from Judy Okay with the Virginia Department of Forestry.
"We're all on team earth. Our purpose is to steward the earth," Chamberlain said. "The earth's only partners are here today."
In addition, the Students Against Global Abuse at Herndon High performed a skit and several local schools, including Al-Faith Academy, and Clearview, Herndon and Hutchison elementary schools, made presentations.
The morning ceremony was capped off with the planting of a white oak.
The afternoon was devoted to games, a nature walk, exhibits created by the schools and a tree pruning demonstration.