The Moon Tree Foundation will celebrate Stuart Roosa and the 50th anniversary of his Apollo 14 mission from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Thursday at Roosa Park.
Col. Roosa was born in Durango and went on to become one of 24 Apollo astronauts who went to the moon. During Roosa’s 33 orbits around the moon he brought 500 tree seeds to celebrate his time with the U.S. Forest Service as a smoke jumper and pilot. These seeds were later propagated as moon trees and planted all over the world to celebrate the bicentennial in 1976.
A moon tree be planted at Roosa Park and Roosa’s daughter, Rosemary Roosa, will give a presentation. Other moon trees will be planted at four local schools and Hillcrest Golf Club.
This project was initiated by Durango student Alex Gnehm, whose study of Roosa made him question why he is not celebrated more and why there is not a moon tree planted in Durango.
For more information, visit www.moontreefoundation.org.
