April 21, 2005

PRESS RELEASE

To: NEWSROOM

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Assistant To The Fire Chief

April 21 - Oklahoma City Tree at Central Fire Station

Living Gift given to Shreveport Fire

The Shreveport Fire Department received a symbolic gift from Oklahoma City during the recent 10 year anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building…

A wispy, slender seedling from a special, 90-year old Elm tree was brought back by a group of SFD firefighters who revisited the sight this week where they had worked during the initial rescue efforts ten years ago.

The old American Elm grew in a parking lot across the street from the Murrah building and on the day of the now infamous bombing, the force of the explosion shredded the leaves and imbedded shrapnel in the bark. The blow did not bring an end to the resilient tree and has since been named “The Survivor Tree”. The Oklahoma Memorial was built around this living symbol and it represents the American spirit and the deep rooted faith of the Oklahoma people. The local caretakers donate their time and resources to collect and grow seedlings from the tree. A seedling from the “Survivor Tree” now grows on the White House lawn.

This Friday, April 22, on “Earth Day”, at 1:30 p.m., Shreveport Green will plant the Elm seedling at Central Fire Station, 263 N. Common Street.

The living memento will symbolize the special bond between the two cities following April 19, 1995 and as a reminder that such a disaster could occur anywhere on American soil.