Ambassador Stephen King was pleased to recognize Earth Day, on Sunday, April 22nd, by helping plant a linden tree at the Kapral Mill Scout Environmental Education Center in Moravian Karst near Brno. The linden tree is one of hundreds of the so-called Trees of Liberty being planted with U.S. Embassy support around the Czech Republic this year to mark the centennial of Czech independence. The Ambassador, himself a life-long Scout, acknowledged the scouts for their voluntary work at and around the mill.
“It is my honor to plant a Tree of Liberty here today. It will be a symbol of our friendship for the next one hundred years. Trees represent stability and longevity. … Earth Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of today´s environmental challenges and celebrate progress in environmental protection over the past decades. Kapral Mill is a great model of environmentally conscientious facility and sustainability,” Ambassador King told the assembled scouts and then recited the Scout Promise.
Kapral Mill Director Michal Medek briefed the Ambassador on Scout activities and accompanied the Ambassador through a biologically rich forest to the nearby Pekarna Cave, which is famous for prehistoric artefacts.