Symbol of Hope Planted In Wood Park
by Bea Peterson
With all the stress and worry brought on the world and our community by the COVID-19 virus, officials in the Town of Hoosick and Village of Hoosick Falls wanted “to create something that represented the strength, resilience and the commitment to family, friends and community that exists here.” Hoosick Town Supervisor Mark Surdam, Hoosick Falls Mayor Robert Allen, Village Police Chief Bob Ashe and HACA member Fr. Tom Zelker of Immaculate Conception Church chose to offer a symbol of hope to their constituents by planting a tree in Wood Park “demonstrating that we are rooted in each other, and rooted in Hoosick.”
The beautiful flowering Royal Raindrops crabapple tree was donated by Jim Sutton of Elhannon Nursery. On Saturday, April 11 Jim and his crew, along with Chief Ashe, planted the four-inch caliper 14 foot tall tree not far from the Municipal Building.
Due to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) regulations on social gatherings, the Easter Sunday morning dedication of the tree with Fr. Zelker was private. However it was captured for Facebook. Fr. Tom prefaced his remarks with a quote from poet Joyce Kilmer… “Poems are made by fools like me. But only God can make a tree.”
Fr. Zelker went on to say that he was humbled and honored to be there. “Here on Main Street, Hoosick Falls; Main Street USA or anywhere, our prayer opens our heart in unity, a common bond of hope, even in the midst of sickness, seclusion and uncertainty. As with this tree, we are rooted in Hoosick, in this soil, this earth. Our roots are intertwined in each other, with the creator in suffering, mutual respect, support, encouragement and secured love. Planted in the midst of this terrible epidemic this tree will share its abundant beauty with us. Soon it will blossom, bearing fruit to nourish the birds.”
“Help us O God, today and every day, to share the best of our lives with each other, with healing, inspiration, kindness and peace in our hearts. May our prayer go forth from here to the ends of the earth. May God bless us and lead us through in a new passover to life – forever and ever.” Father Tom Zelker.
The community is encouraged to be creative, to write positive thoughts and attach them to a stick or stake and place them in the ground around the tree. The tree is too tender at this point to bear anything in its branches.