The Greenwich Tree Conservancy joined the Sons of the American Revolution and the Town of Greenwich in dedicating a newly planted American elm in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States and the Greenwich residents who fought for American independence. The planting was held yesterday, September 17.
Kate Dzikiewicz, executive director of the GTC, spoke about how the tree serves as a living tribute to the past while offering shade, cleaner air, wildlife habitat, and beauty for generations to come. With American elms capable of living for more than 250 years, she said that this tree could one day stand as a reminder of our community’s history when future generations celebrate America’s 500th birthday.
Here is her full speech:
Today, we are proud to join the Sons of the American Revolution and the Town of Greenwich in dedicating this newly planted American elm to the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States, and in honor of the Greenwich residents who fought for American independence.
I can think of no better way to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary than by planting a tree. We humans may live for only a century, but trees can thrive for generations. They become part of the landscape of our lives and communities, connecting us to those who came before us and to those who will follow.
With proper care and attention, an American elm can live for more than 250 years. It is entirely possible that this very tree could still be standing here when the people of future Greenwich are gathering to celebrate America’s 500th birthday.
Over the past year, the Greenwich Tree Conservancy has been searching parks, streets, and private properties throughout Greenwich for trees that were already here when our nation was founded. I’m proud to say that a number of these remarkable trees are still standing.
The people who planted those trees could not have imagined the community that would grow around them, or the generations of people that would sit beneath their branches.
This elm will now begin its own journey through history.
As it grows, it will give shade, shelter, and cleaner air. It will provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, and it will add beauty to this landscape. But perhaps most importantly, it will serve as a living reminder of the people and ideals we are honoring here today. There is also something especially fitting about choosing an American elm for this occasion.
American elms were once among the defining trees of the American urban landscape. Dutch elm disease devastated elm trees across the country, yet some survived and endured.
To me, these survivor elms are symbols of resilience, that even when faced with challenges, we can meet them and grow on. We hope that the elm planted here today will become a similar symbol, of growth through adversity, of a community coming together beneath green leaves, and of the promise of a future yet to come.