Plant a tree in memory of Columbia astronauts

Editor:

While on his first and last mission in space, Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon did experiments on the effect of desert dust on rainfall. While circling the earth he could see some of the results of the reforestation that Israel has done in the Negev desert. He e-mailed a friend back home that it would be great if every Jew in the world would donate a tree to be planted to push back the desert.

Ilan and his fellow Columbia astronauts did not come home, and now a living memorial is being started in Israel by the Jewish National Fund to plant forests in the desert in their memory. Planting trees in their memory has a special meaning, because Ilan is Hebrew for tree.

With the tragic deaths of Ilan and his fellow astronauts, Ilans wish to see the land of Israel blooming with millions of new trees, forests so thick that one could see them from space, takes on new meaning.

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Plant a tree for Ilan and his fellow astronauts, and may all their memories be blessed.

To plant a tree in Israel in honor of Ilan Ramon and his fellow astronauts, call (800) 542-TREE (8733) or visit www.JNF.org.

Larry Waxman

Martinez