Welcome Home Ceremony Set for New Tree

Among the trees destroyed in East Hampton during the late October snow, was the one in the Village Center used to tie yellow ribbons to acknowledge local military members serving overseas.

Since the fate of the tree was first learned, numerous offers of help were received by Ann McLaughlin, chairperson of the Welcome Home Veterans/Yellow Ribbon Committee. On Dec. 11, the yellow ribbons found a new home, albeit a temporary one, on the lawn of the Congregational Church in East Hampton during a brief ceremony.

Well, if you happened to be passing through the Village Center on Monday you might have noticed something different. A new tree has been planted in the traffic triangle.

The tree is an Aristocrat Pear and was donated by the Peszynski family from Paul's & Sandy's Too. The origianl tree, a Bradford Pear, had stood at the traffic triangle since 1974, when it was planted by the Belltown Garden Club.

The East Hampton Welcome Home Veterans Committee isn't wasting any time breaking in the new tree, either. A Welcome Home Ceremony will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. in the village center.

At the new tree, of course.

Coming home is United States Marine Lance Corporal Anthony Strong and United States Army Specialist Roger Boulanger.

Everyone is welcome to attend, wave flags and welcome home our servicemen as they cut their ribbon off the tree.