Survivor Tree Seedlings Donated to San Bernardino, Orlando, France After Tragedies

People stand underneath the bright green Survivor Tree on a rainy day at the 9/11 Memorial.
A photo of the Survivor Tree on the 9/11 Memorial plaza. Photo by Monika Graff.

The victims of tragedies in two U.S. cities and one country will be honored with the offering of “Survivor Tree” seedlings. Communities in San Bernardino, Calif., Orlando, Fla. and France were selected to receive seedlings this year as part of the 9/11 Memorial’s Survivor Tree Seedling Program. The communities have committed to nurturing these trees to serve as landmarks symbolizing resiliency and hope.

“After 9/11, the Survivor Tree became a symbol of our country’s fortitude and resilience,” 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels said. “The seedling distribution program was created in an effort to embody this spirit for communities that have endured suffering. As the trees grow and thrive, we hope they will inspire the people of France, Orlando and San Bernardino as they continue to recover and heal.”

The Survivor Tree has become a symbol of the nation’s spirit of hope and healing as well as strength and resilience in the wake of the 2001 attacks. The tree got its name after it was nursed back to health when it was pulled from World Trade Center rubble. It was later replanted at the 9/11 Memorial.

The Survivor Tree Seedling Program began in September 2013 in partnership with Stamford, Conn.-based Bartlett Tree Expert Company and John Bowne High School in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

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