Jamesport FD plants seedling grown from World Trade Center ‘survivor tree’

A seedling grown from a tree that survived the collapse of the Twin Towers in 2001 has been planted on the grounds of the Jamesport Fire Department headquarters.

Now known as “the survivor tree,” the Callery pear tree stood in the plaza of the World Trade Center when terrorists attacked the towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

Severely damaged when the towers collapsed, the tree was recovered in October 2001 and, seen as something of a miracle, was taken into the care and custody of the New York City Parks and Recreation Department. The parks department rehabilitated it and returned “the survivor tree” to the World Trade Center site where it is planted at the 9-11 Memorial.

“The tree is a living reminder of resilience, survival and rebirth,” Jamesport Fire Chief John Andrejack said during a ceremony at the firehouse yesterday.

Jamesport firefighter John Newman a retired New York City firefighter who spent many hours at Ground Zero during the recovery effort spearheaded this project, Andrejack said.

Students at a Queens high school with a well-established agricultural program working with a Stamford, Connecticut-based tree company, have produced seedlings from the original “survivor.” The seedlings have been distributed to fire departments and police departments across the country and around the world, according to the 9-11 Memorial website.

Newman said on Aug. 31 he and fellow volunteer firefighter Bill Gilmore went to JohN Bowne High School in Queens to join a procession more than a mile long bringing a shipment of seedlings to Medford Fire Department headquarters.

Fire trucks were parked on all the overpasses of the Long Island Expressway as the procession, led by Suffolk County motorcycle police, made its way east, Newman said. There was a very moving ceremony in Medford after which two dozen seedlings were distributed, he said.

The tree was planted yesterday evening behind the firehouse on Manor Lane. Everyone in attendance was invited to participate in the ceremonial planting by throwing a shovelful of soil on the tree’s roots.

Fr. Larry Duncklee of St. John the Evangelist Church in Riverhead led attendees in a prayer of remembrance and dedication.

Andrejack said the tree will be cared for by a N.Y. State-certified arborist.

The Callery pear is known to be a very hardy species that can grow in the wild outside of cultivation. In fact, is is considered an invasive. It is a non-native plant brought to the U.S. from China in the late 19th century. Because it is so resilient, fast-growing, disease resistant and tolerant of air pollution, the Callery pear became popular as a street tree in American cities. The tree grows 16 to 26 feet tall and produces beautiful white flowers in springtime. While attractive, the blossoms’ aroma is considered unpleasant by some.