As a father and a grandfather, I've read a lot of children's books. I’ve read books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Bear Who Didn't Like Honey. Today, I want to tell a true story that should be turned into a children's book. Let's call it The Little Tree That Couldn't Find a Home.

Story time on The Last Word takes us to Penn State Behrend. Let’s begin.

There is a nice white flowering dogwood tree gracing the area beside the historic Glenhill Farmhouse at Penn State Behrend. It looks comfortable and at peace here. However, things have not always been peaceful for this little tree. It was first planted 20 years ago, not here at the Glenhill Farmhouse, but on the east side of the Lilley Library. It tried to grow at the library for a few years. However…

"It wasn't doing well, says John Troncone, the group leader of the Behrend Grounds Crew. “It's a wetter lawn. It stays wet too long in the season and it wasn't doing well."

John decided that the tree must be moved. He and his staff picked out a nice spot outside the old Erie Hall. John thought the little tree would love it there.

"It was a great spot for it,” says John. “It was doing really well. Growing and flourishing really steadily every year. There was no problems with that spot."

However, in 2010, fire heavily damaged the Dobbins Dining Hall on campus. A makeshift dining facility had to be set up at the old Erie Hall. A temporary kitchen was to be placed right where our little tree stood.

"It was a giant mobile kitchen and that tree at Erie Hall was in the way. So there I am again. Digging it out.” remembers John.

That poor tree. John knew he had to find a safe place where the tree would be happy.

"At that point, I really wanted to put it in a place where I thought it would never be messed with again,” he recalls.

John found a nice place near the old pool at Glenhill Farmhouse. It was happy there for many years. However, last year, the pool was turned into a garden area with a waterfall. It’s a place where students could relax. Again, the tree was in the way and there was talk about just cutting it down. John and his staff said no. They wanted to replant the tree for a third time. They did it! The tree is now happy at its new location on the other side of the farmhouse. Thanks once again to John and his staff who believe the little tree has finally found a home. The End.

The entire Penn State Behrend campus is an official arboretum that includes trees brought to this country by the Behrend family. The family founded International Paper Company and donated their beautiful home and property to Penn State. Maps of the trees on campus are available at the Reed Union Building.