PG&E Volunteers Take Care of Final Resting Place for Those Who Served Our Country

In September, PG&E volunteers tended the grounds at national cemeteries in San Bruno and Dixon. When Mike Bockrath learned of the annual Saluting Branches project, he knew he wanted to take part.

In all, PG&E had 46 volunteers. There were 24 at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno and 22 at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon.

"Remembering why and how we're here through our veterans is important," said Bockrath, a regional senior manager. His grandfather is buried in a national cemetery in the San Joaquin Valley. "Being able to come here and do something is special."

The Best Turnout Yet

When PG&E first took part in the program in 2022, one coworker volunteered in San Bruno. Last year, five were present in San Bruno and 11 in Dixon. This year's turnout was the highest in the short history of PG&E's involvement.

A group of arborists began Saluting Branches in 2015 in Minnesota. They wanted to give back to communities and honor veterans by offering no-cost tree care services. On Sept. 18, 4,500 volunteers visited 100 national cemeteries and donated $4 million. It's billed as "the largest one-day volunteer event" in the tree industry.

"Saluting Branches has a long history of caring for our national cemeteries when no one else would step up," said Steven Schulz, president of PG&E's Veterans Employee Resource Group. "They're dedicated to making sure our national cemeteries look good."

"Saluting Branches offers specialized tree care by well-informed and skilled arborists that are often outside of the abilities or budgets of the locations we serve," said Brian Eubanks, who led PG&E's support.

PG&E volunteers helped tree companies clear-cut branches from trees, raked the grounds and cleaned headstones.

"There's no higher honor than to serve those who served you," said PG&E's Burt Skurtun, a former Marine who works in gas construction. "It's in the area where I work. When we talk about giving back to our hometowns, I couldn't think of a better way to do it."

"Every veteran who spent time on a battlefield left behind a friend or family member," said PG&E's Chris Maul, a former Army paratrooper. "It's important to come here and care for the grounds where those veterans have their final resting places."

'PG&E Is Always There for Us'

The work, not to mention PG&E's support, didn't go unnoticed.

"It's good for the local community and for the cemetery," said Golden Gate National Cemetery official Ronnie Campbell. "PG&E is an integral community partner with the cemetery in San Bruno and the other national cemeteries in Northern California. PG&E is always there for us."

"Our veterans have a heart for service," said North Valley and Sierra Region Vice President Joe Wilson, who volunteered. "They do everything they can to serve our customers, each other and our coworkers."