Suffield To Honor Men Who Shaped Town History

SUFFIELD, CT — Two Connecticut Notable Trees at Sunrise Park will receive personal names Saturday during a Trees for Suffield event tied to Connecticut Trails Day and America’s 250th anniversary.

The Trees for Suffield Initiative will hold a Double Tree Naming Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Sunrise Park, according to organizers.

The event is part of Picnic in the Park: Trails, Trees, and America’s 250th Anniversary, which is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Sunrise Park Upper Pavilion/Chapel. The rain date is Sunday, June 7.

According to Trees for Suffield, the ceremony will give personal names to two notable trees at Sunrise Park: the Smith Sassafras, or Sassafras albidum, and the Loomis White Fir, or Abies concolor.

Organizers said the naming is meant to give the trees a stronger personal connection while honoring two Suffield residents, Lester Smith and Roger Loomis.

Trees commonly have both common and scientific names. The Saturday ceremony will add a third name — a personal name — to each of the two Sunrise Park trees, according to Trees for Suffield.

Suffield Parks & Recreation said the Saturday event will highlight the park’s two Connecticut Notable Trees while celebrating Connecticut Trails Day and America’s 250th anniversary “Suffield style.”

Participants are invited to bring lunch and a blanket. Drinks, ice cream and checkered tablecloths will be provided, according to the town event listing.

The event will also include nature and tree-themed activities for children, families and outdoor enthusiasts.

The event is open to ages 1 to 99, according to Suffield Parks & Recreation.

The fee is $5 per person. Children 5 and under are free, according to Suffield Parks & Recreation.