A national campaign conducted by IGA Stores will bring history alive in Bigfork. The grocery chain is asking customers to donate dollars toward a tree-planting project that will become a memorial to the victims, families and heroes of the September 11 attacks on America.

American Forests' Patriot Trees for America campaign came about when IGA partnered with nonprofit American Forests www.americanforests.org. Under its Hometown Green banner, IGA has looked for ways to protect and preserve the environment of the communities it serves. Every tree that stores earn will be planted in the community – at a school, a public park or at a memorial. American Forests will provide historic trees for planting – each the direct-offspring of a tree that witnessed history or shaded a famous person.

"American Forests' Patriot Trees for America campaign is a great addition to Hometown Green as it combines history, education, and environmental restoration". said Zorona Chapman, Promotion Manager at IGA. "The trees will become a lasting educational resource as well as a beautiful place for everyone who lives in the community."

A store will raise $675 for each 10-tree grove that includes individual tree markers indicating species and lineage, and a special granite marker to be placed in the historic tree grove so that visitors will know why they were planted. Area students and teachers will be invited to help choose the town's historic trees.

AMERICAN FORESTS www.americanforests.org, founded in 1875, is the nation's oldest nonprofit conservation organization and the world leader in tree planting for environmental restoration. Since 1917, AMERICAN FORESTS has recognized trees as living witnesses to the events and lives that shaped our nation.

Beginning in 1989, direct offspring historic trees have been grown at American Forests' Historic Tree Nursery in Jacksonville, FL. Trees such as the tulip poplars planted by George Washington, apple trees planted by John "Johnny Appleseed" Chapman, the honeylocust that shaded Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, are propagated and sold to support the organization's work to restore environmentally damaged areas and habitats.

1,282 IGA grocery stores across America are participating. Anheuser-Busch Inc., including Budweiser and O'Doul's, is a proud sponsor of American Forests' Patriot Trees for America Campaign.

IGA will begin the promotion on April 27 – the Saturday after Arbor Day, and conclude on May 10. However, some stores may continue through May 31st. The planting event will be scheduled soon afterwards and several sites are under consideration at this time.