Politicians, Masons, Sons of Liberty, Daughters of the American Revolution, and history lovers gathered at Brandywine Battlefield Park for a ceremony in honor of the Liberty Tree.
America 250 PA organized the event as part of the run-up to the 250th anniversary of independence. As part of the run-up, the group is in the process of planting 67 Liberty Trees in Pennsylvania, one in each county, according to Casandra Coleman, the executive director of America 250 PA.
The Liberty Project, she said, was made possible by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, making Pennsylvania the first state to have all of its counties involved in the project. The significance of the masonic involvement is historically sound. George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were Masons. So was John Hancock. In all, at least eight of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Masons, as were 28 signers of the Constitution.
The original Liberty Tree was an elm tree in Boston that became a symbol for independence from Great Britain. British loyalists cut it down in 1775, but other liberty trees were planted in other colonies. One was a tulip poplar planted in Maryland, and the one now at Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford is a descendant of that tree, according to Troy Grubb, the site administrator at the park.
“The Liberty Tree has such symbolic meaning,” Grubb said before the ceremony. “It was a sign of resistance during the American Revolution. It fits here because this is where Americans fought and died for their liberty.”
Randell Spackmen, president of the Chadds Ford Historical Society and a commissioner with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, spoke briefly before the ceremony on the significance of planting the tree at Brandywine.
“The PHMC feels wonderful that this site was picked to be one of the sites for one of the Liberty Trees. There’s such a value of history here at the Brandywine Battlefield Park. To be able to have one of these trees here for generations to come, for people in the public to see and witness part of our history growing here, really establishes our own roots,” he said.
One of the speakers during the ceremony was Chadds Ford Township Supervisors’ Vice Chairman Kathleen Goodier. She thanked the park for hosting the event and for nurturing the tree, the America 250 PA for promoting the event, and the Pennsylvania Masons.
Goodier quoted from the Masons’ website, saying, “Liberty Trees were gathering places for the Sons of Liberty throughout all 13 colonies. From their meetings and discussions, the seeds of the American Revolution were planted.”
She commented on the fact that the original tree, the elm in Massachusetts, was taken down by the Tories.
“Felling the tree did not weaken the fervor of those Sons of Liberty. This tree, the tulip poplar, is also a resilient tree that grows fast and strong, much like our nation. We’re here today to honor those heroes, the ones who were the genesis of the nation that we are honored to live in today.”
She concluded her remarks, saying she’s looking forward to the 250th anniversary of our independence next year, and the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine in 2027.
As part of the ceremony, reenactor Anthony J. Caroll recited the Toast to the Flag, written in 1917 by John J Daly. A copy of the poem may be found here.
The tree in the ceremony may be found along the drive path leading to the parking area near the Gilpin House at the park. It was planted a year ago, not during the ceremony on June 3.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
