9/11's Survivor Tree
The last living thing to be rescued from the site of Ground Zero twenty years ago is now called the "Survivor Tree." It's a callery pear tree, one of many planted in Manhattan over the years. About thirty years old in 2001, its upper branches above the main trunk were shattered by the fall of the Twin Towers. It was reduced to a stump with broken and burned branches, no more than eight feet tall. Although it was considered "mortally wounded," it was moved to a Bronx nursery, where it was replanted and carefully nurtured. The following spring, new branches began to grow from the broken ends. In December 2010, it was moved back to Ground Zero, where it now stands, over thirty feet tall, blossoming profusely every spring, and capable of living for another 30 or 40 years. (It is pictured on the cover. See also: youtube.com/watch?v=5bLw6bREcbU.)
We instinctively consider this tree more remarkable than any of the other trees planted at the World Trade Center site. We may take life for granted, but when life resurges after suffering wounds, it elicits our wonder and admiration. We more highly esteem those who overcome suffering and adversity.
James M. Kushiner is the Director of Publications for The Fellowship of St. James and the former Executive Editor of Touchstone.
Get six issues (one year) of Touchstone PLUS full online access including pdf downloads for only $39.95. That's only $3.34 per month!
Get a one-year full-access subscription to the Touchstone online archives for only $19.95. That's only $1.66 per month!
bulk subscriptions
Order Touchstone subscriptions in bulk and save $10 per sub! Each subscription includes 6 issues of Touchstone plus full online access to touchstonemag.com—including archives, videos, and pdf downloads of recent issues for only $29.95 each! Great for churches or study groups.
Transactions will be processed on a secure server.
more on America from the online archives
30.5—Sept/Oct 2017
The Christian Cure for What Ails Modern Politics by David Bradshaw
29.4—July/August 2016
Russell Kirk: American Conservative by Bradley J. Birzer by Hunter Baker
29.2—March/April 2016
The History of Family Strength in America May Reveal Good News by Allan C. Carlson
more from the online archives
26.1—Jan/Feb 2013
Manly Chastity, Hedonism & the Law of Non-contradiction by Anthony Esolen
calling all readers
Please Donate
"There are magazines worth reading but few worth saving . . . Touchstone is just such a magazine."
—Alice von Hildebrand
"Here we do not concede one square millimeter of territory to falsehood, folly, contemporary sentimentality, or fashion. We speak the truth, and let God be our judge. . . . Touchstone is the one committedly Christian conservative journal."
—Anthony Esolen, Touchstone senior editor
