Freedom Trees Dedicated

Two groves of "Freedom Trees" were planted as a living memorial to pay tribute to those lost in the World Trade Center attacks of September 11. On Tuesday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined with Queens Parks Commissioner Richard Murphy, New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Councilman Dennis Gallagher and Sal Zuccarello of Queens Garden Florist for the dedication of commemorative plaques, which will be placed at the Landing Strip Park in Jackson Heights near LaGuardia Airport and Lefferts Park on Lefferts Boulevard and the Belt Parkway, near JFK.
The trees were born from an initiative introduced in an April 2002 Queens Courier editorial that called for every American town and city to "plant a Freedom Tree for each one of its sons and daughters."
A short time after the Courier editorial appeared, the City Council joined the campaign, and the Freedom Trees, meant to "symbolize the solidarity of all New Yorkers against terrorism and for the cause of freedom and liberty" were planted.
The flowering plum trees were purchased with money raised from a Queens Courier and Queens Business Todays Top Ten Women In Business fund-raiser in conjunction with Queens Garden Florist.
Today, maintained by the citys Parks Department, the trees have risen as a monument to America and to the sense of nationalism and oneness that came out of 9/11.
"Let freedom ring," said Councilmember James Sanders. "There is no better way to honor the heroes of 9/11 than with a living memorial that will clean our air and be appreciated by future generations and provide rallying points for those who believe the attacks only strengthened our resolve."
Compiled by Tonia N. Cimino