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    Apollo 14 mission to the moon with Stuart Roosa as the command pilot. |
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Moon Trees An internationally
significant story inspired by the Siskyou Smokejumper Base There are four individuals living in Oregon who not only went to the moon but flew around it 34 times before returning to earth. Their trip may have never happened if it had not been for the experiences of a smokejumper. In 1953, Stuart Roosa began working at the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base in Cave Junction where he grew to love the forests. It is believed that this experience is what inspired him to carry tree seeds with him when, in 1971, he became the command pilot of the Apollo 14 mission to the moon. The space ship circled the moon 34 times before returning to earth where the seeds were planted as part of an experiment. The trees were given away in 1976 to celebrate the centennial of the nation and four of these trees are known to be planted in Oregon and many others planted in other parts of the nation and world. The Siskiyou Smokejumper Base and the smokejumping experiences that inspired Roosa to carry tree seeds to the moon is why many consider the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base to be the home of the moon trees. If you would like to see a moon tree, one can be found on the grounds of the Veterans Medical Center in Roseburg. It is a Douglas Fir with a plaque saying “This tree dedicated by the Veterans Administration in 1976 to America's Medal of Honor recipients...” Two additional trees can be found at the state capitol and Oregon State University, Corvallis.
Sources: Pamphlet from moon tree dedication at Siskiyou Smokejumper Base, 1976 Story retold by Roger Brandt
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