New growth from the darkest day

A sapling from a tree that survived the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center has found a new home in Oceanside.

The tree, a Callery pear, had been reduced to an 8-foot-tall stump when it was found buried under debris at ground zero. It was rehabilitated at Van Cortlandt Park, in the Bronx, and, known by then as the Survivor Tree, brought to the Sept. 11 memorial plaza on Dec. 21, 2010. Since then, saplings have been given to various communities across the country.

Oceanside received its sapling in a ceremony at the Schoolhouse Green last Sunday. New York City Firefighter Matthew Yellico and his wife, Francesca, helped bring the tree to its new home. The Yellicos have made it their mission to add survivor saplings to memorials across Long Island, to help honor the memory of those who died in the 9/11 attacks.

The tree will be planted next spring.

The ceremony’s attendees included members of the Oceanside Fire Department and the Board of Education, and State Assemblymen Todd Kaminsky and Brian Curran. The Island Park Fire Department helped to create an arch for the American flag, using the ladders of its trucks.

Oceanside Schools Superintendent Phyllis Harrington read a poem, Curran spoke about the tree’s resilience, and Kaminsky spoke of how the tree represents the strength of America.

On Sept. 11, 2001, 18 Oceansiders perished in the terrorist attacks: Rich Aaronow, Janice Ashley, James Barbella, Joshua Birnbaum, Mark Jerome Dominguez, Shannon Fava, John Florio, Thomas Gardner, Tim Haviland, James Kelly, Tom Kelly, Stephen Malantia, Laura Marchese, Ken Marino, Jeff Nussbaum, Robert Spear Jr., William Spitz and Marc Zeplin.