“Branches of Unity” Tree Felled

Among the many trees and limbs lying on the ground this morning, August 5, 2020, after the tropical storm yesterday, one of them was the “Branches of Unity” tree outside the Board of Education building.

The tree was one of the “Branches of Unity” trees planted by New Britain schools in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

A 2001 news briefing in the Hartford Courant said that at 1:30pm on October 11, 2001, one month after the attacks, that, “each of the city’s public schools and the administration building will celebrate the first ‘Branches of Unity Day’ to honor those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and hijackings.”

“A pear tree will be planted at each site,” the news brief also said. “Local firefighters and police officers are scheduled to attend ceremonies at each of the sites. A commemorative plaque will also be installed at each of the newly planted trees.”

The plaque at the site outside of the Board of Education building on Columbus Boulevard read, “Branches of Unity Tree. Planted on October 11, 2001. Remembering September 11, 2001. ‘Branches of Diversity, Forging A Tree Of American Unity.'”

When the tree was planted, the pain, mourning, anguish, anger and fear from the attacks were very present for the nation. People in the country were also concerned about how to talk to children about what they were seeing on television and hearing adults discussing.

At the same time, many Muslims and people of Middle Eastern ethnicities were facing widespread vilification, bigotry and discrimination.

It was against this backdrop that the trees, planted by the city’s schools, were called, “Branches of Unity,” and were dedicated to, “Forging A Tree Of American Unity.”