SHOVEL DIPLOMACY at Versailles.

In December, tow brutal windstorms slammed through western Europe, killing more than 140 people and downing millions of trees. One of the hardest hit areas was outside Paris at Versailles, the historic palace and gardens of Louis XIV. The hurricane-force winds toppled an estimated 10,000 trees on the 2,000-acre estate, including a tulip poplar imported from Virginia for Marie Antoinette and a Corsican pine planted under Napolcon's orders.

The news spread worldwide, augmented with wire service photos showing splintered trunks and the debris-strewn palace grounds. Versailles started an adopt-a-tree fund but attention soon focused on a small town in Georgia and a school that felt a special connection to the palace. Here, in the words of four of its students, is what happened next.

In writing this article I am recalling one of the most historic and memorable experiences I have had in my young life so far. Just think, something that most people dream of and never do. I can say I have done. I have planted trees at the magnificent palace of Versailles and made a contribution that will, I hope last for hundreds of years. (Sara Keene, 13)

A great number of the uprooted trees at Versailles were planted by General Marquis de Lafayette. President George Washington gave Lafayette these famous trees as a gift of appreciation for his assistance in the American Revolutionary War. Given the fact that Fayetteville, Georgia, was named for Lafayette, Fayette Middle School decided to help France replace the damaged trees. The Student Council began to raise money to purchase trees and collected more than $600. This action evolved into an essay contest that would change my life forever.

Mr. Dean Breest, an employee for Air France Airlines, contacted our principal, Mr. Mike Maxwell, and the two exchanged ideas for sending four students to France to help with the events. They agreed on an essay contest.

Paris has been my dream for a long time, so I jumped at the opportunity. While all of this was going on, other companies were getting involved and donating trees, including Scotts, AMERICAN FORESTS, and others. I immediately began research on Versailles and Lafayette and wrote my essay. I turned in my essay and nervously awaited the announcement of the winners. (Mandi Woodruff, 12)

"Wow," I thought to myself. "Wouldn't that be absolutely wonderful if I won?" I went to the Chateau's official website and explored. After seeing pictures on my computer screen of this lush, majestic place, I knew this destiny calling. I felt the pain France went through and was equally saddened by something I know went deeper than a love for nature. I grabbed a pen and poured my heart and soul into that essay. (Mary Moore, 13)

Tuesday, February 29, 2000, everyone in school was anticipating the announcement of who the winners were. That morning I and fellow eighth-graders had the joyous task of picking the classes we wanted to take in ninth grade. About five minutes before our fourth-period class was to be let out, the front office buzzed the chorus room and asked if Amy Bloomfield and Sara Keene could please come to the front office.

All the secretaries were starting at us as we walked in the door. Mrs. Heard pointed to the three blue chairs on a wall known as the "troublemaker chairs" and told us to have a seat. Mr. Maxwell would be with us momentarily.

By this point I was clueless as to why on earth Amy and I were there. Then Moore walked in and sat next to us. Mr. Maxwell led us into his office, pointed to three calendars all stacked on top of each other, and said. "Girls, take a calendar and turn to today's date and write. 'Today Mr. Maxwell called me to the office and told me that I had won the trip to France.' "Amy and I didn't make it past "office" before we realized what we had just won. (Sara)

The day the winners were announced was the happiest day of my life. My teachers and Mr. Maxwell pulled me aside at the end of the day and told me that I would be joining the other girls on the trip to Versailles! I was so overcome with joy that I could not speak at first. I was floating on clouds. The following week a reporter interviewed us four girls and our language Mrs. Pruett. Then we had an assembly with the president of Versailles, the owners of Scotts, and AMERCIAN FORESTS. After the assembly Mary, Sara, Amy, and I recited our essays in our school's courtyard to our visitors, then went out in front of the school to plant a George Washington Tulip Poplar from AMERICAN FORESTS' Famous & Historic Trees program. At the bottom of the hole we placed a champagne bottle with items to remember the day. (Mandi)

A man in a green jacket came to the microphone as the ceremony was just about to end and said that he was Hubert Astier, the president of Versailles Palace. I couldn't believe it. I was just expecting one or two gardeners. I was touched that this man had come all the way from France just to thank us. (Sara)

The events made me realize how important our replanting of trees at Versailles was to both our countries. The next thing I knew, we were on a plane to Paris. When we arrived, I could not believe I was there, Paris was my greatest dream and now I was fulfilling it. (Mandi)

Along with their dreams and expectations, the four girls and their language teacher. Atlanta native Carol Pruett, took 106 trees from AMERICAN FORESTS" Famous & Historic Trees program, including six 12-foot-tall George Washington Tulip Poplars. Air France also flew Deborah Gangloff, AMERICAN FORESTS' executive director, and Jeff Meyer, director of the Famous & Historic Trees project, to Versailles along with Anne Donovan from the White House Millennium Council, which designated this planting the first International Millennium Groves are 100 Famous & Historic Trees planted to encourage the creation of healthier, more livable communities.

We immediately were met by a French photographer, who took out picture with a map of Versailles. Our shuttle bus driver was a pleasant, elderly man, whom I liked right away because he whistled while be drove. It showed he was in a good mood. (Amy Bloomfield, 14)

We walked into the hotel and out breath caught in our throats. The hotel was gorgeous! They had a band in the lobby playing "La Vie Rose," and the clerks were all singing along. I love that song because it means seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. We threw our luggage on our beds then left to see the Eiffel Tower.

My stomach dropped and I felt light-headed when I was it. It was absolutely beautiful. The view from the top is indescribable. You would have to go yourself to feel the joy we felt at that moment. After out group reached the bottom again we decided to head back to the hotel because we were very tired and were about to freeze! Georgia girls aren't used to such cold weather in the spring! (Mary)

After arriving back on the ground we headed back toward our hotel, changed into something warmer, and headed right back out for dinner. We ate at a quaint little cafe and enjoyed our dinner of ham and cheese on French beard. It was dark and very late. As soon as our heads hit the pillow, we were swept into dreamland. (Amy)

The next morning my first thought was Today is the Big Day. We all got dressed up and had a nice breakfast of croissant and hot chocolate. We were greeted by the president of Versailles and taken to Marie Antoinette's private garden. A band played the American national anthem for us and then the French national anthem. Versailles Elementary School was there and so were the press! There was a mob of reporters and photographers.

As I was handed a shovel. I turned and really noticed everyone around me; the other girls smiling and waving; the reporters shouting our names and asking questions; my mom and Mrs. Pruett, the language teacher, beaming with pride. This is the life, I thought to myself, and proceeded to dig. (Mary)

Versailles was beyond my imagination. While walking out of its front gates I could almost feel as if I saw the horse-drawn carriages and King Louis XIV stepping out of the carriage to see his new home. Marie Antoinette's garden was my favorite. I felt so privileged to go into a garden that is not open to the public and plant a new tree that will live on. While we were planting I kept thinking. General Marquis de Lafayette planted a tree here hundreds of years ago and now I and repeating the same event that he got to do. It almost feels as if I great thing in common with a person who lived hundreds of years ago. (Sara)

Afterward, as we turned and waved to the special palace that brought us all here, if finally hit us how important our mission really was. We might have changed people's lives forever that day. We all rode the bus back in silence, thinking of Versailles and the French. My heart was filled with pride on this day, as an American and as a guest of the gracious people of France. (Mary)

In visiting France, I would like to believe that we were more than just visitors. We were representatives of our families, our school, our county, our state, and our country. Six of the trees we took with us were bought by our student council and our student body. When we took the trees we were taking a little of everyone with us. (Sara)

The following days were spent visiting the Louvre, Museum D'Orsay, Arc De Triomphe, Champs-Elysses, and Notre Dame. Our last day in Paris was spent shopping on Champs-Elysees. We departed the "City of Lights" with not only the knowledge that we made history but with a thousand memories I am sure none of us will ever forget. I am utterly grateful to my teachers, principal, best friend, and my family for believing in me so much that at age 12 I was able to fulfill my greatest dream. (Mandi)

We leave tomorrow! Oh, hoe I'll miss Paris! This trip has been the best thing that has over happened to me. I want to thank the people from Scotts Miracle Gro and Air France for making this wonderful experience possible for us all. You will never know how much this means to us. (Mary)

After breakfast we enjoyed our last few hours of beautiful French sunshine. Our ride home seemed longer somehow. The trip had been wonderful and one I will never forget. Thank you to all the people who made it possible. (Amy)

As we boarded the plane and found our seats, we waved good-bye to Paris and nearly cried. We were so sad to be leaving. This trip is one that will be engraved in my mind forever. Years from now my grandchildren will know this story by heart. The moral of this is, aim high and never give up hope because someone will always come to your aid. As our plane took off, I said to myself. "Au revoir, Paris! Until we meet again." (Mary)

When we went to the top of the Eiffel Tower our first day, I saw what an immense city Paris really is. When I walked down the Champs-Elysees and I saw all the little shops and the French flags on all the light posts, it hit me that I was really here in the place I have always wanted to come to, "The City of Lights." You just don't look at a small town like Fayetteville in the same perspective. As Gertrude Stein once said "America is my home country, but Paris is my hometown." I have now adopted that saying.

As I end this article, I am remembering one of the greatest experiences and memorable things I have ever done. One day when I hope to go back to France, I can take whomever I am traveling with to the tree I planted and say, "I planted that tree when I was 13 years old." With the journal I have kept and the pictures I have taken. I believe that I have made a lasting record for my future grandchildren and family history. The tree I planted will live on as lasting history and will be able to be seen for generations to come. For me it will always be a lasting reminder of a trip and a history I made when I was just barely a teenager. (Sara)

Amy Bloomfield, Sara Keene, Mary Moore, and Mandi Woodruff are all students at Fayette Middle School in Fayetteville, Georgia. This article is a compilation of essays they wrote for American Forests on their trip. Their adventure as "truly wonderful. I was able to enjoy it even more through the excitement and enthusiasm of my students."