Fronteras

A piece of 9/11 history will soon be taking root in Prescott. The city was presented with a seedling Wednesday from a tree rescued from the rubble of the terror attacks in New York City. Prescott received the gift in honor of its resiliency after the loss of 19 elite fire fighters in June. Representatives were honored at a ceremony before a Mets game in New York.

Boston and New York’s Rockaways community were also given seedlings from the famed pear tree. It was nursed back to life after the attacks and now has spawned hundreds of seedlings. The Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum now plans to donate three seedlings a year to communities that have overcome tragedy.

Prescott spokesman Pete Wortheim said he understands the magnitude of this gift.

“This is really an incredible honor but also a responsibility that we as a city needs to take care of,” Wortheim said.

Wortheim is not sure when the seedling will arrive or where it will be planted. The gift comes just days after the city dismantled a large, makeshift memorial to the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots that died June 30. Some of its elements may be incorporated into a permanent structure.