Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 5, 1990                   TAG: 9005080242
SECTION: AMERICAN HOME WEEK                    PAGE: AH2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Betsy Biesenbach
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CELEBRATION A THING OF BEAUTY

This year, the Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS is planning several beautification projects to mark the event, one of which will be enjoyed by Roanokers for generations to come.

The highlight event this year took place in Elmwood Park downtown, where at Elm Avenue and Jefferson Street, the REALTORS association planted a young willow oak in honor of the 200th anniversary of the ratification of the United States Constitution. The tree will be known as the "Constitution Oak," and will be planted along with a plaque commemorating the event. The planting will also coincide with the Roanoke Valley's first Tree Awareness Day, Bush said.

American Home Week had its beginnings in 1952, when the National Association of REALTORS started a "Build America Better" program, which emphasized neighborhood improvement, particularly in run-down urban areas.

Local REALTOR groups across the country took part in the effort on a voluntary basis. By 1956, the focus of the program grew to include what is now the central theme: the protection and encouragement of private property ownership. The celebration then was called "National REALTOR Week."

In 1975, the name of the event was changed to "Private Property Week." Since 1985, it has been known as "American Home Week."

Each year, American Home Week has a different theme. This year's theme is "Making Dreams Come True in the '90s."

The National Association of REALTORS is sponsoring the event this year, but for the first time, it will not be involved in any activities of its own. Instead, that will be left to the state and local organizations.

Bush said she does not know why the change was made, but it was a "mutual decision" by national, state and local organizations. The only effect the change will have on the celebration is that the Roanoke Association will not be sending the national association a scrapbook highlighting the week's activities, as it has in the past.

Each year, the Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS does "something to give back to the community," Bush said. "If we just get out there and sell houses and we don't care about people, we've missed it."

The Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS is planning to plant shrubs and trees in four different locations during the week: Vinyard Park in Vinton, the new Salem Senior Citizen's Center at Broad and Main Streets, Walrond Park in north Roanoke County and Starkey Road in south Roanoke County.

The tree planting project, Bush said, is "a good thing for the future." Studies have shown, she said, that the deforestation of the Earth has contributed to the hole in the ozone layer, and many groups, such as the Arbor Day Society, are promoting the planting of trees.

The tree will also serve as a reminder to people of how important trees are to us. They provide us with wood for homes as well as all kinds of other products, including the paper the Constitution was printed on.

But the most important thing the "Constitution oak" will do will be to serve as "a reminder of the beginning," because it stands "for freedom," she said.