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Several trees were added to the courthouse lawn Friday, Arbor Day, to replace those lost to disease or with storm damage.
In 1981, county commissioners planted three trees in memory of former commissioners Gerald D. Smalley and Merl Nelson and Judge Byron C. Kennedy.
Commissioners replaced the trees Friday, inviting the men's families to attend.
Jean Northenor, Warsaw, is the daughter of Nelson and she thanked the commissioners for the rededication.
"When that (first) tree began dying, I died a little bit with it," she said.
The Nelson tree is a flowering pear, planted on the south side of the courthouse.
Kennedy's family was represented by his stepchildren Dan (and Amanda) Lee of Chapman Lake and Mrs. Rudy (Rosemary) Finderson of LaGrange County.
Lee said anyone who knew the judge knew he was a "gentleman's gentleman, a lawyer's lawyer and a patriot's patriot."
The Kennedy and Smalley trees are redbuds, planted on the west side of the courthouse.
County commissioner Avis Gunter talked about the establishment of Arbor Day and read "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer to mark the event.
NIPSCO employees also planted and dedicated trees Friday on the north side of the courthouse lawn.
Jason Leitz, NIPSCO's supervisor of forestry operations, was joined with Larry Graham, manager of community relations, in presenting and planting two Japanese lilacs to the county.
The trees will get about 25 feet tall, Leitz said, and bloom this summer.
