A tree went into the ground in Lower Manhattan this week, and with it, a new 9/11 remembrance effort got underway.
Nonprofit 9/11 Day, which has led an annual campaign since 2002 to honor the lives lost in the September 11, 2001 attacks through acts of public service, is marking 25 years since 9/11 with a goal of generating 1 million good deeds by September 11.
Each year, tens of millions of Americans take part in volunteering and acts of kindness tied to the anniversary. This year, one of the group’s new projects is Together We Grow, created with One Tree Planted.
The initiative launched on September 9 with the planting of a 15-foot willow oak tree in Battery Park in New York City at the Labyrinth of Contemplation, a space created to honor victims of the attacks.
Representatives from 9/11 Day, One Tree Planted, The Battery Conservancy and AmeriCorps took part, along with community members and families of people who lost their lives, as they worked together to restore the gathering space.
A press release said the event gave participants a chance to “reflect on the resilience and survival that have defined New York in the years since 9/11,” and to “remember, connect, and leave something good behind.”
Most of The Battery has been closed for waterfront restoration in recent years, and the event was among the first held in the newly reopened space.
After the September 9 planting, the partners plan a year-long campaign to plant 3,000 new trees nationwide in honor of the 2,977 victims of 9/11. One Tree Planted, AmeriCorps and 9/11 Day will support communities involved in the project in the coming months.
“Twenty-five years later, we continue to find ways to remember the lives that were lost and the people whose lives were forever changed,” said Hank Lynch, president and CEO of One Tree Planted. “A tree is a simple but powerful symbol of that remembrance. It gives us a chance to honor the past while doing something good for the future. Together We Grow is about coming together, caring for a place we share, and creating something living that can continue to grow for generations.”
One Tree Planted also offers service opportunities outside 9/11 Day and works with corporate partners on reforestation efforts in the United States and beyond. People can also plant a tree in memory of someone they have lost through the organization. Memorial trees start at $10.
“Each tree becomes part of something larger: a living reminder that even in the face of profound loss, we can continue to care for one another, care for the places we call home, and help something new take root,” a press release stated.
“On 9/11 Day, we come together to honor those we lost by caring for one another and the communities we call home,” Jay Winuk, executive vice president and co-founder at 9/11 Day and a 9/11 family member, said in a statement. “Together We Grow is a beautiful example of how service can bring people together, create connection and turn remembrance into something positive and lasting.”
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