PHOTO: Last Friday, members of the Richmond Hill community and city Parks officials joined Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (l. to r.); One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center President Simcha Waisman; City Councilman Eric Ulrich; and Assemblyman Mike Miller in planting and dedicating a 9/11 Survivor Tree in Forest Park. Photo Courtesy of NYC Council
Elected officials, civic leaders, and city Parks staff last Friday were joined by members of the Richmond Hill community to plant and dedicate a 9/11 Survivor Tree in Forest Park.
City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and Assemblymen Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) and Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) helped One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center President Simcha Waisman sow the special tree in a grassy area adjacent to the Buddy Monument and Sgt. Joseph E. Schaefer Oval in the expansive green space.
After the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a charred trunk of a Callery pear tree was pulled from the rubble at the former World Trade Center site. The severely damaged tree was removed from Ground Zero and placed in the care of the Parks Department. After its recovery and rehabilitation, the tree was returned to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in 2010, where it stands today.
It was dubbed the Survivor Tree, and has grown to become a living reminder of resilience, survival and rebirth.
Sapling of the Survivor Tree was distributed to various individuals and organizations across the five boroughs. The tree planted in Forest Park grew from sapling donated by retired Richmond Hill Firefighter and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Joe Bachert.
By Forum Staff
