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Sapling of ‘Survivor Tree’ at 9/11 ceremony
A sapling from a tree that survived the collapse of the twin towers has found a new home in Rockville Centre.
The tree, a Callery pear, had been reduced to an 8-foot-tall stump when it was found buried under debris at ground zero. It was rehabilitated at Van Cortlandt Park, in the Bronx, and, known by then as the “Survivor Tree,” brought to the Sept. 11 memorial plaza on Dec. 21, 2010. Since then, saplings have been given to various communities across the country. Rockville Centre received one on Sept. 20 at its 9/11 candlelight vigil. Retired New York City firefighter and village resident John Atwell acquired the sapling for the village.
Another resident, retired FDNY member Steve Wall, said he found meaning in the tree because it stands near the panel above the memorial pool at ground zero that lists the names of the 343 firefighters who were killed on Sept. 11, 2001 — including his friend Matthew Ryan.
The first time he saw the tree on the plaza, Wall said, it was bare on one side. “But over the last four years it gets a little bit bigger, and a little bit stronger, and the tree starts to fill out now,” he said. “And now it’s standing up proud and strong. It’s very high. It’s well over 30 feet. And I think that’s a legacy to all of us that when we remember our loved ones … maybe we’ll be able to lead our lives a little bit taller and a little bit stronger.”
At the village’s 9/11 ceremony last Sunday, Theresa Cove, who lost her husband, Jim, in the attacks, described the tree as a symbol of resilience and regrowth. “Tonight, with candles lit, we, the families, pause to remember our very own personal losses on Sept. 11,” she said. “However, what has always helped me is remembering Sept. 12, and all the days and weeks that followed. With a spirited backbone and a resolve to aid our broken hearts, this nation and the world came to New York City’s aid with an unprecedented number of volunteers. Our greatest lesson that day is found in the compassion and the courage that emerged in response to this tragedy.”
