In Summit Hill, Arbor Day has a unique significance.

It provides opportunity for the borough’s Shade Tree Commission to showcase its commitment and accomplishments.

On Saturday, the commission held an Arbor Day program in the borough hall with about three dozen people in attendance. Usually a tree planting program commemorates Arbor Day but rain forced the program indoors.

The highlight was the designation of Summit Hill as a “Tree City USA” for the 18th year in a row by the Arbor Day Foundation.

It also marked the 25th anniversary celebration of the Shade Tree Commission which, according to Chairman Lou Vermillion, has planted approximately 600 trees during that tenure.

Will Thomas, representing the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, presented a banner to the Shade Tree Commission which designates the borough as a “Tree City USA.”

Thomas outlined the criteria needed for a borough to be designated a “Tree City USA.” The only other Tree City USA in the Times News area is Lehighton.

Vermillion said in conjunction with Arbor Day, six memorial trees have been planted.

Four were donated by the Summit Hill Historical Society in memory of Ernest and Florence Wehr, Darlene Wargo, Levio Grosso and Daniel and Bonnie Marsolick.

The Hillers Lunch Group had a tree planted in memory of Stanley Bankos.

The Summit Hill Lions Club also had a memorial tree planted, donating money to the Shade Tree Commission before the club recently disbanded.

Vermillion said the Summit Hill Historical Commission helped to create the Shade Tree Commission.

He said, “One of the commission’s responsibilities is to maintain our new trees through watering, pruning and mulching, as well as removing or replacing hazardous or diseased trees.”

“Arbor Day is the result of the Summit Hill Historical Society support which has (over the years) sponsored 70 memorial trees,” Vermillion said.

He said over 100 memorial trees over the years have been sponsored by community members.

Members of Summit Hill’s Shade Tree Commission beside Vermillion are John Kupec, Kevin Ruch, Ed Kerestus, Mary Helen Shelton, Mary Ann Szczecina and John Kupec III.