University News

Employee Memorial Tree Planting Postponed by Pandemic

May 20, 2020

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MACOMB, IL – The annual Western Illinois University Employee Memorial Tree Planting Ceremony, to honor employees who passed away during 2019, will be combined with next year's ceremony because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year's ceremony would have honored WIU Building Service Worker James Buffalo, Jr., who passed away Dec. 25, 2019.

The annual planting in the Memorial Tree Grove, established in Fall 2003, includes one tree planted in memory of all employees who passed away during the preceding year. Honorees include employees who die while either actively working, on disability, on workers compensation or on an approved leave from the University. To date, Western has honored 52 individuals.

Due to the postponement of the ceremony, a webpage has been created to honor Buffalo and previously memorialized employees.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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