Red Bay celebrates Arbor Day, bicentennial

The City of Red Bay is celebrating Arbor Day March 13 with a program hosted by the Red Bay Garden Club. At noon in Red Bay City Hall, city leaders and community citizens will gather together for a “program with a purpose,” as Garden Club member Rosalyn Fabianke puts it.

“Everybody is working together for this,” she said.

At the ceremony, the Garden Club will be planting an Alabama Bicentennial tree. Fabianke said members chose the bay tree because of its connection to Red Bay. It will be planted in Heritage Park and was provided by the Red Bay Tree Commission.

In addition to its status as a Bicentennial tree, the tree is being planted in memory of Emma Frances Bullen Bryan. Bryan was from Red Bay and wrote the famed poem “Every Light a Prayer for Peace” that is still recognized statewide with ceremonies every year. She wrote the poem for a Garden Club contest in 1951 and won first place.

“We are honored to be planting this tree not only to celebrate our state’s birthday but in honor of her memory as well,” Fabianke said.

Several people will be speaking at the ceremony, including relatives of Bryan, Red Bay Mayor Charlene Fancher and Scotty Kennedy with the tree commission.

Thanks to the Alabama Forestry Service, there will also be free trees to give away to attendees.

RSVP by contacting Linda Holcomb at 256-356-4473 or clerk@redbay-al.gov.