Members of the Selma and Dallas Economic Development Authority delivered a special gift to workers at Honda Lock America Friday for their 25th anniversary of being established in Selma.

Wayne Vardaman, executive director for the EDA, said they delivered a Japanese Flowering Cherry Tree to the plant on Ravenwood Drive Friday to celebrate their time and commitment to creating more than 300 jobs in Selma.

“We are not only tickled that you came here,” Selma Mayor George Evans said, “We are tickled that you stayed here. Everyday we are doing something in Selma that is different and the EDA is really leading us in the right direction — we love HL-A.”

Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard chimed in during the brief ceremony with similar sentiments, telling the workers he hopes to have another tree dedication service again in 25 years.

Plant manager Dennis Moore helped dig the hole for the tree with several other employees. The tree, slightly more than 5 feet tall and only inches wide, is a symbol of appreciation for the company’s foreign roots in Japan. The tree was planted at the front entrance of the plant, surrounded by other cherry trees in the place of where one was damaged in a storm.

“Most of the people that have worked here are local folks,” Moore said of his employees.

He thanked them for their hard work and effort to keep HL-A in Selma for the last 25 years, especially those employees who have been at the plant for its entirety.