Remember those who lost their lives. The Living Memorials Project cataloged over 700 sites across the United States. Trees, gardens, or forests were planted or restored to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001. These sites honor those who perished in the terrorist attacks. The LCFD Memorial stands as a testament to this effort.
The United States Congress asked the USDA Forest Service to create the Living Memorials Project. It was created to identify sites where the tragic losses of 9-11 are honored and remembered. This project recognizes the power of trees to bring people together. It creates lasting memorials for the victims of terrorism, their families, communities, and the nation. The LCFD Memorial embodies this spirit.
Natural resources revitalize city streets and towns. Nature helps heal the spirit and reconnect us to life. After September 11th, many people found solace in nature. They walked through parks, sat in gardens, or looked out over the water. Some held candlelight vigils and brought flowers to homes, firehouses and rescue stations. The LCFD Memorial provides such a space for reflection.
Planting living memorials is a long-standing tradition. For centuries, people have used nature to symbolize and mark the cycles of life. The Living Memorials Project builds on community actions after 9-11. It connects these shared expressions of hope. The LCFD Memorial is a part of this tradition.
Between 2002 and 2004, cost-share grants from the USDA Forest Service supported community projects. These projects were in the New York City area, southwest Pennsylvania, and the Washington, D.C. area. In the southern region of the U.S., the Forest Service collaborated with officials from the Pentagon, American Forests, and Arlington County. They developed additional memorial sites. The LCFD Memorial stands as a result of these efforts.
In 2006, the public multimedia exhibition Land-Markings: 12 Journeys through 9/11 Living Memorials was displayed at the National Park Service’s Federal Hall National Memorial on Wall Street. It attracted about 200 visitors per day for 3 weeks. The exhibit honored the fifth anniversary of the tragedy. It was part of the curriculum of 500 first-year students at Parsons The New School for Design. The LCFD Memorial echoes the sentiments of this exhibition.
From 2002 to 2004, USDA Forest Service social scientists conducted a social and site assessment. It was of the public spaces created, used, or enhanced in memory of the 9-11 tragedies. Researchers created a National Registry. It is an online inventory of hundreds of community-based living memorial sites. Memorials are shown on a national map. The LCFD Memorial is likely included in this registry.
In 2016, social scientists revisited a sample of living memorial sites. They developed additional research on longer term resilience and recovery. Social scientists at the USDA Forest Service’s New York City Urban Field Station continue to study how green spaces support individual and community resilience. The LCFD Memorial serves as a case study for such research.
Each Living Memorial site is unique. Each visitor brings an individual perception, ability and need. The LCFD Memorial offers opportunities for remembering and honoring those who have been lost. It minimizes feelings of isolation and loneliness. It provides a space for release and closure. It enhances a sense of self and community.
Consider the willow for remembrance. The downward arching form of the weeping willow gives the willow tree an association with the more gentle and inward aspect of human emotions. In bringing our attention inward, the Trees of Remembrance remind us that grieving is a powerful attribute of the human species. It is a vital step in the individual and collective healing processes. Perhaps you will see a willow here at the LCFD Memorial.
The LCFD Memorial stands as a place of reflection, remembrance, and healing. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Take a moment to reflect on the lives lost and the hope that endures.