Wednesday, May 3, 2023 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am EDT
Early this May, the Town of Ridgefield will be dedicating a special tree to the memory of those lost in the Coronavirus pandemic. The tree, an ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Amelanchier, was planted outside the Ridgefield Historical Society in April 2022 and has begun flowering this spring.
The ceremony — open to all — will include words and a plaque dedication by Ridgefield First Selectman, Rudy Marconi, and Pastor Beth Anderson of St. Andrew’s Church in Ridgefield. Refreshments will follow in the Scott House, the headquarters of the Ridgefield Historical Society. The Society continues to collect COVID-19 artifacts and oral histories representing this uncommon time in the history of our town, and our world.
The COVID-19 Memorial Tree was initiated by the Commission on Aging of Ridgefield and was generously donated by Steve Zemo of Ridgefield Apartments. Zemo owns and maintains the ‘pocket park’ in which the tree resides.
Sometimes referred to as “a tree for all seasons,’ the Autumn Brilliance Amelanchier flowers in springtime, produces berries in summer, displays fiery brilliance in fall, and captures snow in the winter — a year-round tribute to the many friends and family members who lives were lost to the global pandemic.
All are invited to attend the dedication ceremony, as well as stop by the park for visits across the seasons.
