A “Hero’s Tree” planted next to the gazebo in Ludlow Park, Summit Hill was used as an analogy of how a military veteran would like to see kindness expand.

Bob “Ski” Siesputowski, founder of the Navy Club of Carbon County, said the tree will grow. It will get branches and those branches will get leaves.

Just like the tree increases in size, Siesputowski would like to see friendliness expand.

“I want to see more people helping each other, not talking each other down,” Siesputowski said during a dedication program for the tree on Sunday. “We’re supposed to be brothers and sisters. It’s about time we start acting like it.”

The tree was a project of the Navy Club.

Siesputowski said the Hero’s Tree isn’t for just military heroes. It’s to pay tribute to police, firefighters, ambulance drivers, doctors, nurses and anyone who worked in stores and restaurant during the pandemic.

“If you worked during the pandemic, you’re a hero,” he said.

Siesputowski said the planting of such a tree was a longtime dream for him. He said plaques for heroes have been installed in Lansford, Nesquehoning, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Palmerton. But this is the first Hero’s Tree planted, possibly the first in the United States, he said.

The tree was donated by Mayor Jeffrey Szczecina, who worked with the Summit Hill Shade Tree Commission on the project.

Szczecina said to him, heroism comes down “to volunteers who work in our communities every day, volunteers like firefighters, the Historical Society, the Shade Tree Commission, Little League coaches.”

A retired state trooper, Szczecina told the story of how some years ago a young girl went missing in West Penn Township and a massive search ensued. Szczecina was a trooper at the time and was part of the search.

He said about 160 people took part in the search for the girl the one day. Szczecina said his corporal looked at him and said, “You know, we’re the only two searching who are being paid.”

“The tree is more a living tribute to all the volunteers we have here in Summit Hill,” the mayor said.

A red plaque with white lettering at the tree states, “Carbon County Navy Club honors all who served mankind. Country. State. County. City. Town. Borough.”

Scott Reinhart, past commander of the Navy Club, said that when he was a child, his hero was Superman because “he helped people in times of need.” Reinhart said you don’t need a cape to be a hero. All you need are opportunity and initiative.

He said. “To me a hero is someone who touches our lives and does not do it for themselves.”

The tree was blessed by Pastor Marjorie Keiter of St. John’s Slovak Church.

Angela Nardini sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.”