A seedling from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum Survivor Tree was planted at the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS) on May 26.
Rome Mayor Jackie Izzo, EADS Commander Col. Paul M. Bishop, and several New York Air National Guardsmen from the 224th Air Defense Group planted the tree during a short ceremony.
“This Sept. 11 is the 20th anniversary of the attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.,” Col. Bishop said. “That day profoundly impacted EADS and continues to influence our thoughts and actions 20 years later.”
“EADS is extremely grateful to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum for the Survivor Tree seedling,” Col Bishop added. “The tree occupies a prominent spot at our site and will provide a constant reminder to Airmen that the air defense we help provide is needed to keep our nation safe.”
The Survivor Tree was found under the rubble of the World Trade Center severely damaged, but still alive, during recovery operations in October 2001.
According to the 9/11 Memorial web site, the tree was removed and rehabilitated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. It was returned to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in 2010, where it stands in a glade at Ground Zero, a living reminder of survival and rebirth.
In 2013, in partnership with Bartlett Tree Experts and John Bowne High School in Queens, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum launched the Survivor Tree Seedling Program. Each year, the Memorial gives seedlings from the Survivor Tree to three communities who have endured tragedy in recent years.
One of this year’s recipients is EADS, which played a key role in the nation’s air defense during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Then known as the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS), EADS was one of the first U.S. military units to respond to the attacks.
The tree planting is the first of several 9/11 commemorative events EADS has planned. The events will culminate with a memorial ceremony at the facility on Sept. 11.
For more information on the Eastern Air Defense Sector and the 224th Air Defense Group, visit www.eads.ang.af.mil. For more information about the New York Air National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov.
More information on the Survivor Tree is available at https://www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/tree-survived