9/11 ‘Survivor Tree’ Returns to Ground Zero | Short Film Showcase

right now we’re standing at the altar a

right now we’re standing at the altar a citywide nursery in Van Cortlandt Park

citywide nursery in Van Cortlandt Park

citywide nursery in Van Cortlandt Park and behind me we have the 9/11 survivor

and behind me we have the 9/11 survivor

and behind me we have the 9/11 survivor tree

the 9/11 survivor tree is a Cleveland

the 9/11 survivor tree is a Cleveland calorie pair and we use them in the city

calorie pair and we use them in the city

calorie pair and we use them in the city a lot for the street trees because they

a lot for the street trees because they

a lot for the street trees because they tend to grow straight up and they don’t

tend to grow straight up and they don’t

tend to grow straight up and they don’t branch very low

branch very low

branch very low this pear tree was not the only pear

this pear tree was not the only pear

this pear tree was not the only pear tree down there there were numerous pear

tree down there there were numerous pear

tree down there there were numerous pear trees in 10-foot Square cement planters

trees in 10-foot Square cement planters

trees in 10-foot Square cement planters this tree just happened to be very very

this tree just happened to be very very

this tree just happened to be very very close to the Trade Center building when

close to the Trade Center building when

close to the Trade Center building when it collapsed

all the upper branches on this tree was

all the upper branches on this tree was shattered and torn off this entire tree

shattered and torn off this entire tree

shattered and torn off this entire tree was no taller than 8 feet when we got it

was no taller than 8 feet when we got it

was no taller than 8 feet when we got it it was what we would consider mortally

it was what we would consider mortally

it was what we would consider mortally wounded I didn’t think the tree would

wounded I didn’t think the tree would

wounded I didn’t think the tree would survive you know I just started working

survive you know I just started working

survive you know I just started working here then so the tree symbolizes for me

here then so the tree symbolizes for me

here then so the tree symbolizes for me the beginning of my career here at the

the beginning of my career here at the

the beginning of my career here at the nursery

nursery

nursery I was also wounded I was a collection

I was also wounded I was a collection

I was also wounded I was a collection officer I got shot in a line of duty

officer I got shot in a line of duty

officer I got shot in a line of duty then I was able to bounce back and the

then I was able to bounce back and the

then I was able to bounce back and the tree was the same way if you look at it

tree was the same way if you look at it

tree was the same way if you look at it from far away you never could tell that

from far away you never could tell that

from far away you never could tell that anything was wrong you have to actually

anything was wrong you have to actually

anything was wrong you have to actually go up close take a look at the bark wear

go up close take a look at the bark wear

go up close take a look at the bark wear the crown started growing again and that

the crown started growing again and that

the crown started growing again and that will tell you the story that’s when you

will tell you the story that’s when you

will tell you the story that’s when you know that wow this tree really went

know that wow this tree really went

know that wow this tree really went through something there isn’t all that

through something there isn’t all that

through something there isn’t all that much we can do other than clean its

much we can do other than clean its

much we can do other than clean its wounds and give it a good place to grow

wounds and give it a good place to grow

wounds and give it a good place to grow and absorb nutrients the trees about 30

and absorb nutrients the trees about 30

and absorb nutrients the trees about 30 years old when it came up here now it’s

years old when it came up here now it’s

years old when it came up here now it’s closer to 40 years old but it still has

closer to 40 years old but it still has

closer to 40 years old but it still has a good 30 or 40 years to go and maybe

a good 30 or 40 years to go and maybe

a good 30 or 40 years to go and maybe more

they’re here today to take the survivor

they’re here today to take the survivor tree back she’s gonna go back for

tree back she’s gonna go back for

tree back she’s gonna go back for ceremony tomorrow and it’s a really

ceremony tomorrow and it’s a really

ceremony tomorrow and it’s a really emotional day for me I’m happy she’s

emotional day for me I’m happy she’s

emotional day for me I’m happy she’s going back and just a lot of meaning

going back and just a lot of meaning

going back and just a lot of meaning when I look at the tree all right all

when I look at the tree all right all

when I look at the tree all right all right how’s everything big day huh big

right how’s everything big day huh big

right how’s everything big day huh big day you know is always a mixed emotion

day you know is always a mixed emotion

day you know is always a mixed emotion because this means that it’s it’s real

because this means that it’s it’s real

because this means that it’s it’s real you know this means that we’re gonna

you know this means that we’re gonna

you know this means that we’re gonna gonna bring her home and with that comes

gonna bring her home and with that comes

gonna bring her home and with that comes the memories so you know the fact that

the memories so you know the fact that

the memories so you know the fact that they had to leave in the first place who

they had to leave in the first place who

they had to leave in the first place who were you working in mm you were down

were you working in mm you were down

were you working in mm you were down there yeah 10 months it’s the last

there yeah 10 months it’s the last

there yeah 10 months it’s the last living thing to get out of that site

the frame is too high we’re over 13 6

the frame is too high we’re over 13 6 which is an illegal travel light so I

which is an illegal travel light so I

which is an illegal travel light so I need to find an open air route down to

need to find an open air route down to

need to find an open air route down to the Trade Zone so we don’t hit any

the Trade Zone so we don’t hit any

the Trade Zone so we don’t hit any overpasses

she’s probably gonna really take off

she’s probably gonna really take off nicely because now she’s going to be in

nicely because now she’s going to be in

nicely because now she’s going to be in fertile soil everything beginning soil

fertile soil everything beginning soil

fertile soil everything beginning soil it’s got aeration got fertilization

it’s got aeration got fertilization

it’s got aeration got fertilization you know the whole plaza in essence is a

you know the whole plaza in essence is a

you know the whole plaza in essence is a rooftop garden it’s a it’s a six foot

rooftop garden it’s a it’s a six foot

rooftop garden it’s a it’s a six foot deep planter box she’s gonna grow evenly

deep planter box she’s gonna grow evenly

deep planter box she’s gonna grow evenly just a little bulb on one side but soon

just a little bulb on one side but soon

just a little bulb on one side but soon as the Sun hits it it’ll start reaching

as the Sun hits it it’ll start reaching

as the Sun hits it it’ll start reaching out towards the Sun it’ll grow out

out towards the Sun it’ll grow out

out towards the Sun it’ll grow out evenly so it’s gonna look good

this time of the year usually the second

this time of the year usually the second or third week of April is when this tree

or third week of April is when this tree

or third week of April is when this tree will bloom the tree just attracts so

will bloom the tree just attracts so

will bloom the tree just attracts so many people I think that’s interesting

many people I think that’s interesting

many people I think that’s interesting about here is that there’s not a sign on

about here is that there’s not a sign on

about here is that there’s not a sign on the tree that there’s not a plaque

the tree that there’s not a plaque

the tree that there’s not a plaque there’s nothing to tell people that this

there’s nothing to tell people that this

there’s nothing to tell people that this year is special

year is special

year is special there’s the monoculture of White Oaks

there’s the monoculture of White Oaks

there’s the monoculture of White Oaks here and yet the people are drawn to

here and yet the people are drawn to

here and yet the people are drawn to this one tree and they know without

this one tree and they know without

this one tree and they know without anybody telling them that this is a

anybody telling them that this is a

anybody telling them that this is a special treatment this pea tree

special treatment this pea tree

special treatment this pea tree represents to me the ability of not only

represents to me the ability of not only

represents to me the ability of not only an organism to regrow and drive it also

an organism to regrow and drive it also

an organism to regrow and drive it also represents how our great city of New

represents how our great city of New

represents how our great city of New York is that yes we will take a hit but

York is that yes we will take a hit but

York is that yes we will take a hit but the Norris of Iverson

the Norris of Iverson

the Norris of Iverson this tree is prolific way that it will

this tree is prolific way that it will

this tree is prolific way that it will seed out

seed out

seed out so I’m sure the birds are spreading

so I’m sure the birds are spreading

so I’m sure the birds are spreading seeds in this tree all around Manhattan

seeds in this tree all around Manhattan

seeds in this tree all around Manhattan in this area so in many more ways than

in this area so in many more ways than

in this area so in many more ways than one this tree has come home