WASHINGTON
—A tree planted by the Washington Township Fire District and Washington Township
Uniformed Firefighters IAFF Local #3786 at a memorial service on September 11,
2002 (click here
for story) was replaced by Doerler Landscaping because it had a disease
and needed to be replaced. Firefighters were shocked to find the tree cut down
on the afternoon of Tuesday September 16 when they were testing a new fire
engine on Lake Drive in the Washington Township Town Center. After an extensive
investigation and vandalism was ruled out, it was found out that the
landscaping contractor was contracted to replaced dead, dying or diseased trees
in the area and decided to replace this one because of a "black bark" disease
cherry trees get. Firefighters at the time were unaware of the tree cutting and
replacement and that it was part of a annual fall tree replacement program which
replaces trees prior to winter. The tree was replaced the following morning by a
landscaping crew, representatives from Doerler Landscaping and Sharbell Reality
decided to add to the monument by adding a fence and flowers which will increase
the beauty of the newly planed tree.
