A Humble Tribute to The First Earth Day

A crackle of static on the radio announcing something called Earth Day, became a call to arms for a 13-year-old Linda Blythe. It was 1970, the dawn of the environmental movement and the very first Earth Day march was all over the news.

The next day, April 22, 1970, Blythe found herself standing outside the pretty drab Midland Park Shopping Center in New Jersey, a place that is still "much the same as it was back in 1970," she noted years later. Excited by what she had heard on the radio, Linda had asked her mom if she could attend the Earth Day event. "My mom said, sure," Linda recalled. "We were more free-range kids back then." Linda, her sister Lois, and their friend Sue headed to the shopping center with visions of Earth Day festivities - colorful decorations, banners, marching, cheering crowds, all with a clear purpose. But the reality was they'd got the location details wrong and there was nobody there.

However these weren't ordinary kids. "We looked around," Linda says, "and thought, 'The Earth needs us anyway.'"

They remembered there was a small stream behind the shopping center-Goffle Brook-and decided to explore it, to see if they 'do' anything. When they got there - they were struck by the amount of trash all along its banks and a shopping cart was submerged in the water. Without any equipment or adult supervision, the three girls took action. They pulled the shopping cart out of the stream and began filling it with litter.

Making multiple trips they diligently pushed the cart back to the shopping center, depositing it all into public trash cans until they were all full. By the end of the day, they had cleaned up a good section of the stream's bank's and although muddy and exhausted, they felt a profound sense of accomplishment.

This spontaneous act left a lasting impression on Linda. Reflecting on that day, Linda observed, "I felt empowered, even as a kid, that I could do something about it. And it didn't matter that adults weren't there, that me and my friends could have a real impact." This one event sparked a lifelong commitment to environmental causes.

Growing up in Midland Park, a northern suburb of New York City, Linda witnessed first hand the rapid changes in her own environment. Her housing development had replaced the last farm in the area, leading to the disappearance of local wildlife like snakes and chipmunks from her backyard. The smog over New York City was often visible, and frequent news reports about air and water pollution heightened her awareness of pollution.

Even the trash has changed since Linda's first Earth Day. "Back then," she reflects, "litter was mostly paper, newspapers and paper straws, things nature could devour. Now, plastic reigns, a constant threat to the planet."

Not long after her first Earth Day, an aunt bought her a subscription to National Wildlife Magazine which further nurtured her interest in nature. Receiving this precious magazine-the only mail she got-became an important source of information and inspiration, deepening her understanding of the world around her.

Over the years, Linda's dedication never waned. The experience from that first Earth Day inspired her to continue picking up litter, a habit she maintains to this day, aged 67. By now, living in Philadelphia, she is a familiar figure in her neighborhood for her relentless efforts to keep the streets clean. One neighbor affectionately dubbed her block "Linda Land" because it was noticeably cleaner than the surrounding areas.

Professionally, Linda earned a degree in Chemical Engineering and began her career as an engineer before transitioning into information technology for a travel company. After retiring she has been able to dedicate more of her time to volunteer work. She became involved with the Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, removing invasive species and planting native flora.

As a certified Tree Tender, she supervises street tree plantings in Philadelphia and this work has connected her with like-minded individuals. "If you want to have a positive outlook on life, it's a great thing to volunteer to help the environment," she encouraged. "You will be amongst 'your' people." Linda also participated in Sierra Club service trips and played a significant role in cleaning up Philly's Cobbs Creek Park, where she and other volunteers over the years have removed a staggering nine tons of litter. Despite ongoing environmental challenges, Linda remains optimistic. "Working alongside college students and other volunteers gives her hope. "The people I've met while doing cleanup are fun to work with," she said. "It makes you feel part of something important."

As for advice to others, Linda emphasized collective effort. "Each of us, all by ourselves, don't make a big difference. But everybody together does," she says. Linda believes that simple actions can have profound impacts. "You can make any day an Earth Day," she smiled. "Just keep on cleaning up."

Linda's journey from that muddy stream behind a shopping center to becoming a cornerstone of her community's environmental efforts exemplifies the lasting impact one person can have and the power of Earth Day.

The challenges may seem insurmountable, yet Linda holds firmly to her belief - the power lies in collective action, in the ripples created by even the smallest act. "It might feel overwhelming," she admits, "but you can inspire someone, and suddenly, a movement takes root."

Her story is a reminder that empowerment can begin at any age, and that the actions of a few can inspire many. "I feel like I want to apologize to the birds and the turtles," she shared emotionally. "I'm one human trying to undo a little bit of the mess."

We're building our Earth Day Stories Archive and want to hear from everyone-all ages, all walks of life. Share your story with us at [email protected]