“Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.” We are all familiar with the poem by Henry W. Longfellow, the well-remembered Maine poet of yesteryear. The poem goes on to describe how Revere rode horseback through the countryside of what is now the state of Massachusetts warning the country folks that the British soldiers were coming. As we all know, that was the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

Today, well over 200 years later, we still have a holiday to commemorate that event. Hopefully, it won’t snow so we do yardwork and enjoy the first cookout of the season with family and friends or maybe just take that first trip to camp.

But, I have a question for all my readers. In about the year 2350, will anyone remember what we did to help our country, our world, or even our community be a better place to spring?

April 12-18 is National Volunteer Week. As we spring into spring work with all the yard and garden work that the snow will uncover, if it ever melts off, we may not realize that we have an unlimited amount of potential energy. However, it is of no good to us until it is used.

Each and every one of us should volunteer to help with the activities of our communities or our towns. We should also encourage our children and young people to volunteer with activities in our community. After all, they are the future of what we are working on now.

In my last column, I spoke about planting a tree. If you have a group of children to keep busy on a rainy day during vacation you might try these tree activities.

See how many different trees the group can name. Cut two large trees from green poster board. Make them about the same size and shape. Cut halfway up on one and halfway down on the other. Slip the two tree shapes together so they will stand up alone.

Next, cut a lot of leaves from green construction paper or use leaf stickers. On each leaf write something that trees give us such as lumber, fuel, or apples. Then, attach the leaves to the tree.

The FSNA will be selling artificial cemetery flower arrangements at the meetinghouse on May 16 from 10 a.m.-noon. If anyone has flowers that you would care to donate, please call Cindy Kemble at 778-3808. Have a wonderful weekend and remember to volunteer to help with the activities of your town and your community.