Yale Cordage: Proudly Supporting Saluting Branches
Across the country, at veterans’ cemeteries where rows of headstones mark the sacrifices of America’s service members, Yale Cordage has spent the past two years making contributions to Saluting Branches‘ Day of Service — equipping volunteers with the high-performance arborist rope they rely on. From coast to coast, every one of the 99 locations received Yale Cordage lines engineered for safety, durability, and precision, supporting crews as they carried out important work with the respect and professionalism these sacred grounds deserve. Yale Cordage’s support of Saluting Branches goes beyond providing product—it reflects a long-standing commitment to the arborist community, and the tools professionals depend on every day.
Our commitment to innovation stretches back to 1950, when founder O. Sherman Yale set out to rethink what rope’s future. Beginning with a single braiding machine in a basement workshop, Sherm introduced synthetic fiber rope to the Maine lobster industry, replacing traditional linen lines with nylon — and quietly launching a revolution. His willingness to innovate while meeting the real-world needs of working professionals became the company’s defining philosophy. That philosophy still guides us today.
From those early days, the company expanded far beyond maritime rope, developing engineered solutions for some of the world’s most demanding environments: neutrino observatories in Canada, fast-rope systems for the U.S. military, ocean buoy lines fortified against sharks for NOAA, and custom slings developed in partnership with NASA. The challenges varied, but the approach never changed — listen to those in the field, engineer to their needs, and build rope that performs where failure is not an option.
Nowhere is this approach more visible than in the arborist community. Yale Cordage has spent decades designing ropes specifically for tree climbers, foresters, and contractors — ropes known for their handling, durability, and reliability aloft. Products like our Blue Moon and Blue 32 climbing lines, Maxi-Flip lines, and our high-strength Crane Slings are all the result of deep collaboration with arborists who understand both the demands of the canopy and the importance of trust in their equipment.
That partnership is also reflected in the work of Eric Banderas, Yale’s Arborist Market Manager, who participated in last year’s Saluting Branches event at the Florida National Cemetery. His involvement highlights Yale’s connection to the arborist community and its ongoing commitment to supporting those who dedicate their time and skill to this day of service.
By donating rope and supporting Saluting Branches as a sponsor, we continue a long tradition of standing behind professionals who perform complex, meaningful work. We believe this contribution helps equip volunteers nationwide, but it also reflects something deeper — a belief in giving back, in supporting skilled tradespeople, and in honoring the service of America’s veterans.
From a basement braiding machine to a global leader in synthetic rope manufacturing, Yale Cordage’s journey is marked by innovation, craftsmanship, and community. This partnership with Saluting Branches is a natural extension of that legacy.
