After the September 11, 2001 attacks, everyone in this country wanted to do something to support those who experienced a very personal tragedy –losing a family member or friend. The Hollywood/Los Angeles Beautification Team (LABT) reached out to Senator Diane Feinstein’s office and offered to plant a tree in memory of each California loved one lost in the attacks. Senator Feinstein sent letters to families with LABT’s offer.
LABT traveled all over the state to churches, homes and schools to plant a tree for each individual family, at a location that had meaning for them. As LABT was talking with one widow she said “they all died together, why not plant all the trees together”. LABT discussed that with the other families and they wanted to do it. Thanks to North Hollywood Park, LABT was able to plant the communal trees there. On June 22, 2002, the families planted their trees and LABT built a memorial where the trees were planted.
After the planting in Los Angeles, families in Northern California asked if LABT could also do plantings for their loved ones closer to their home. Honoring their request, LABT planted memorial trees in Bidwell Park in Chico, California.
The trees planted and all of the elements in the parks were paid for by LABT. This became a very personal undertaking for LABT, as families were contacted and consulted, trees were planted and the two park memorials were built and dedicated.
Stories come with each tree planted. A tree was planted by parents and siblings of a 25- year-old professional who had moved back east and was coming home to introduce his parents to his fiancé. Another tree was dedicated to a Captain of a flight that went into the Pentagon, planted by his brother and some of the local firefighters in Los Angeles. On the day of the planting, three fathers of college age women flying back to California met for the first time. Each of the fathers had written a poem or letter to their daughter. Coincidently, trees for these three girls had been planted next to each other.
After the planting, the families were talking with each other and LABT started to get calls from families in New York asking them to plant a tree for their lost loved ones. LABT could not say no. It took ten years to do because these trees have to be planted in a special and sacred way.
Every year through 2020, LABT has held a solemn memorial ceremony on September 11 at North Hollywood Park. The ceremony, which is well-attended by family members, political and civic representatives, religious leaders and citizens.
The North Hollywood and Bidwell Parks 9/11 Memorials remain, for generations to come, a place of tribute to those we lost on that day.
