Liberty Tree planted in honor of America’s 250th Anniversary

Last week Mayor Gary Christenson, Cemetery Director and Tree Warden Chris Rosa, City Councillors Amanda Linehan and Ari Tayor, members of the Historical Society, and many community members gathered to plant a “Liberty Tree” in honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The living monument, which was planted in the section of Forest Dale Cemetery where the Civil War Memorial stands, will serve as a reminder of the ideals of freedom, independence and unity that sparked the birth of the nation in 1776. While the war started in 1775, the movement had started 10 years earlier, in 1765, as a protest in Boston, underneath an elm tree.

The idea of a Liberty Tree dates back to the earliest days of the Revolution, when patriots in Boston and other towns across the colonies gathered beneath stately elm trees to voice their opposition to British rule and rally support for independence. These trees became symbols of resistance, hope and the shared vision of a free nation. By planting a new Liberty Tree, the City of Malden seeks to link past generations with the present and future, ensuring that the spirit of 1776 continues to thrive.

Malden’s new Liberty Tree is an Ulmus americana ‘Princeton.’ The tree is approximately nine years old and 16 feet tall. The Princeton elm exhibits good resistance to Dutch elm disease and demonstrates resistance to elm beetles as well. It is accompanied by a marker explaining its historical significance and the reason for its planting, ensuring that future visitors understand its place in both local and national history.