A search for memorial trees - Forum - Brief Article

American Forests, Spring, 2003

Since 9-11 many communities have planted memorial trees or memorial forests as a living tribute to the heroes and victims of the terrorist attack on America. The memorial tree movement in this country was actually born at the end of World War I, when AMERICAN FORESTS (then the American Forestry Association) called on individuals and communities nationwide to plant trees in honor of servicemen and women.

Thousands of trees were planted--in some places individually, in other places by the hundreds--marked with brass plaques, and registered with AMERICAN FORESTS in the pages of this magazine.

Unfortunately, as the decades have passed, many of these markers have been lost, stolen or have weathered to the point that they're unreadable. Some of the trees have died or been removed. As the trees and their markers became disconnected, so to did the purpose of these memorials. In researching these historic plantings (see Rooted in Memory, page 38) we found some municipalities unaware of the significance of the trees still lining their boulevards or gracing their courthouses.

In an effort to preserve this green bit of American history, AMERICAN FORESTS is creating a page on its website for communities to re-register their historic trees. Communities can download a photo, describe their memorial, or provide a link to a site that will tell more about the site.

At this time in our lives, especially, we feel it is important to recognize these long-ago tributes. It is our hope that communities will peruse their records, talk with their oldest citizens, and then find and rededicate or restore these memorials, remembering their original intent, as described in the pages of this magazine more than 80 years ago: "The trees will be, in their very greenness and robust strength, reminders of the youths who gave their vigor to win the big war... They will stand as a continual inspiration for the living who look upon them and are sheltered by them from sun and storm."

--The Editors