Corna Kokosing Construction Celebrates Arbor Day With Columbus Centennial Celebration of the Gift of Trees

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbus is now home to a select group of cherry trees after today's Centennial Celebration of the Gift of Trees at Franklin Park Conservatory.

"City, state and international leaders gathered to plant 20 cherry trees as a sign of unity and friendship between the United States and Japan," said Mark Corna, President of the Board of Trustees, Japan-America Society of Central Ohio (JASCO). Corna said Columbus is the only city in the state to receive the cherry trees.

"Japan is the strongest political ally of the United States in Asia, and has been, for over 50 years," Corna said. "I'm proud to see our partnerships continuing to blossom." 

2012 is the 100^th anniversary of the planting of the original gifted cherry trees at the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C., and today's ceremony served as part of the Bicentennial Celebration in Columbus.  In fact, the great-grandmother of former Ohio Gov. Robert A. Taft II accepted the original gifted cherry trees from Japan. Taft attended today's ceremony along with Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman; Kuninori Matsuda, Consul General of Japan in Detroit; Isao Shoji, Interim Executive Director of Japan-America Society of Central Ohio (JASCO) and Bruce A. Harkey, Executive Director of the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

Students from five Columbus City Schools also took part in the festivities. Jeni's Ice Cream debuted a new flavor of ice cream, White House Cherry, for the event.

"Ohio is second only to California for the number of Japanese owned businesses operating in the state," Corna said. "Cultural partnerships like this showcase the various professional and personal opportunities for international business in Columbus. It's exciting to see."

About Corna Kokosing Construction Company: Headquartered in Columbus Ohio, Corna Kokosing Construction Company is a full-service commercial builder. Corna Kokosing has earned numerous local and national awards for everything from our safety programs to our construction services. Its president, Mark Corna, and  250 associates also take pride in promoting green construction initiatives. Corna Kokosing is also active in many charitable, cultural and art events that mark the fabric of central Ohio.

SOURCE Corna Kokosing Construction Company