New Holland Construction joined with hundreds of landscape and grounds maintenance companies from across the nation on July 22, 2013 for the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) “Renewal & Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery”. New Holland Construction was a Platinum sponsor of this year’s event, which marked the 17th year the PLANET has sponsored this service project. According to PLANET, it is the landscape industry’s largest day of service in the country.

More than 100 companies brought crews to Arlington National Cemetery to spend the day mulching, pruning, planting, and performing other landscape maintenance duties throughout the cemetery. Abe Hughes, Vice President of New Holland in North America, headed the seven-member New Holland contingent, who was among a workforce of 500 volunteers who participated in the day of work and remembrance. In addition, Gaithersburg Equipment, a New Holland dealership in Gaithersburg, Md., donated the use of two New Holland Construction skid steers and a New Holland Rustler™ utility vehicle to aid in the work being done at the cemetery.

The day began with a ceremony featuring the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to dedicate the day of work to those who paid the ultimate price for service to their country.

“New Holland is honored to play a part in this important project,” says Hughes. “By contributing equipment and manpower to enhance the beauty of this solemn and sacred place, it’s one of the ways we can pay tribute to our nation’s veterans and leaders.” New Holland also participates in other activities which honor the nation’s military heroes and their families through the company’s True Blue Salute programs whereby donations are made to the Fisher House Foundation. The non-profit Fisher House Foundation provides a "home away from home" for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness or injury.