MILTON — A former temporary city employee may be gone, but Milton officials are ensuring he’s not forgotten.
The city of Milton will honor Patrick Wilcox — whom a car fatally struck last August as the 34-year-old loaded yard debris into a city sanitation vehicle — during an upcoming Arbor Day tree planting ceremony.
City officials will plant a Drake Elm to commemorate him during a 4 p.m. ceremony April 29 at Milton City Hall.
Mayor Wesley Meiss said in a statement that planting a tree represents Wilcox’s desire to maintain Milton’s image.
“The planting of a tree on Arbor Day is an act of reflection, where the importance of trees relates to the quality of life in a community,” he said. “As mayor, I feel it is an appropriate time to dedicate a tree planting in memory of Patrick Wilcox, who passed Aug. 27, 2015 in the line of duty with the city of Milton Streets and Sanitation Department.
“Patrick Wilcox will always be remembered for his desire to improve the beauty and quality of life in this community.”
Over the past 20 years, Milton has been part of the Arbor day Foundation’s Tree City USA program; the city has met the national program’s four standards.
These include maintaining a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and a proclamation observing Arbor Day.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: City of Milton’s Annual Arbor Day Ceremony
WHEN: 4 p.m. Friday, April 29
WHERE: Milton City Hall, 6738 Dixon St.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: He ‘will always be remembered’ — City of Milton to plant a tree to honor memory of late employee, Patrick Wilcox