The Tree

The tree outside the Anne Frank Annex

This is a picture of the tree that stood outside the Secret Annex.  Anne mentioned it several times in her diary.  One such quote from February, 1944, "Nearly every morning I go to the attic to blow the stuffy air out of my lungs. From my favorite spot on the floor I look up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree, on whose branches little raindrops shine, appearing like silver, and at the seagulls and other birds as they glide on the wind. As long as this exists, ... and I may live to see it, this sunshine, the cloudless skies - while this lasts I cannot be unhappy." The simplicity of a tree.  How often we look upon them and think nothing.  Yet this tree for Anne gave a view of the nature and freedom that she so longed for.  This tree, like the shoes at the U.S. Memorial Holocaust Museum symbolizes such powerful imagery.

Sadly, this tree finally succumbed to nature and fell after 150 years of dedicated life.  Another reminder I suppose of life's circle.  It seems as though another piece of Anne has departed.  But hopefully its imagery will inspire more hope, more dedication to our efforts to help end human suffering from hatred.

Let us plant a new tree...  that will grow and continue to reach for a sun of human kindness.