I just finished watching a documentary on PBS about the trees at the 9/11 Memorial and, once again, I am moved - inspired - invigorated with hope with all the good work that goes on that we know nothing about. It goes hand in hand with Hidden Figures (a narrative film) and Come From Away (Broadway Show), both of which should be mandatory viewing for everyone in the Universe for their ability to instill hope and inspiration. So much good in this world we can choose to see. The odds are truly stacked in our favor.

I have visited the Memorial many times and, though I loved the Swamp Oaks, I had never learned why they were chosen and what is their history. Briefly, there are only about 5 types of deciduous trees that can survive hardily in the NYC environment and the architect and landscape designer wanted them to be deciduous, not evergreen. So Swamp Oaks and Ambers were chosen, with only the Oaks ending up in the final design. Another reason they were chosen is that the trees will never be identical, growing at different heights and changing leaves at different times, a physical reminder that they are living individuals.

What moved me so much was the community of people who accomplished this and it took many years. Just to find 400 Swamp Oaks within 500 miles of NYC, the trees had to come from the areas most affected by the tragedy. Only 50% came from nurseries, they had to locate the rest. When they asked if they might buy the trees on someone's property, the owners almost universally donated them. Thrilled to be able to give.

There is so much more to this story, the way the trees are positioned, why the Ambers were taken out of the design, the "Survivor Tree," but I will leave that to you to discover on your own.

Michael Arad, the winner of the design competition (5,000 entries) got his inspiration when he was out walking with his wife shortly after the collapse of the two towers, he ended up in Washington Square Park at the fountain, there were groups of people all around it, when the water came on, he instantly felt connected to the other people there...

The egos, emotions and energies that had to come together to create what we now can visit at no charge is incredible. It is a miracle. There are hundreds of inspiring stories just about the creation of the Memorial. Go. Go again. Bring people with you. Collect the acorns.

“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn”  - Ralph Waldo Emerson