Memorial Treeway of Champion Trees: Calvary Cemetery, Queens, NY

Purpose:
This memorial tree planting continues a tree planting initiative Champion Tree began last year at Calvary Cemetery. We hope that the spirit of those taken from us on September 11th will thrive for ages to come in the living legacy of these Champion Trees. Before the families helped plant the Memorial Treeway, Keefe concluded, "May these trees be nourished by the spirit of those they represent, who are buried here, and who we honor and remember not just today, but for years to come."

Reason site was selected:
Calvary Cemetery is a planting partner of Champion Tree and was working with them last year to replace trees lost due to the Asian Long-Horned Beetle. This particular hillside offered a clear view of the World Trade Center attack. It was a place were many Cemetery workers and local residents came together to witness the tradegy. It seemed fitting to return to this spot to plant the living memorial. Calvary Cemetery was working with the victims families who participated in the quiet ceremony. This cemetery is the final resting place of 11 people who died on 9/11.

Events planned for site:
The Champion Trees will serve as a living memorial marking a hillside that overlooks Manhattan. The trees will serve as a place for individuals and families to return at their own pace to reflect and find peace.

Do you believe your memorial is a sacred place?:
The keynote speaker was Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), who knew some of those buried at Calvary, and on September 11 lost a cousin who served as a firefighter. Crowley's moving comments were highlighted with quotations from President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. "The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." "…we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

Sponsored by: The National Tree Trust, The Champion Tree Project and Calvary Cemetery
Site maintained by: Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, Queens, New York
Project website contact: www.championtreeproject.org
Project email contact: champtree@bigplanet.com

Address: 4902 Laurel HIll Blvd.
City, State, ZIP: Queens, New York  11377
County: 
Dedication: Apr. 1, 2002
Status: Dedicated/Existing and permanent
Artwork: No
Public access: yes
Public events: No
Sq. Foot: 
Acreage: 
Number & Species of Trees: 11-20: Red Ash - from the National Champion Red Ash, Dowagiac, Michigan.

This project is best described as a: Single Tree, Greenway, Cemetery
This project is unique because of the: Site Planning Process, Site Use, Site Maintenance

Project Sponsors and Participants
Is the community involved?: yes
Project was initiated by: Non-Profit
Land is owned by: Private
Type of participants: Staff and Volunteers
Number of people involved: 10 - 20
Percent of those involved who are volunteers: 25% to 50%
Are people expected to stay involved?: yes

For more information contact : www.championtreeproject.org, champtree@bigplanet.com