WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - In front of the building where they spend most of their time warring with one another, congressional leaders will soon take the time to stop debating and honor Anne Frank by planting a tree.
On Wednesday, U.S. representatives and senators will plant a sapling from the chestnut tree that grew outside a young Frank's Amsterdam Annex window on the west front lawn of the U.S. Capitol, according a Wednesday press release issued by the Anne Frank Center USA.
The ceremony has been organized by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Yvonne Simons, Executive Director of The Anne Frank Center USA, will give remarks at the dedication ceremony.
According to the press release, Frank took great solace from the horse chestnut tree that grew outside the Amsterdam Annex in which she and her family lived during World War II. Frank described the tree lovingly in her famous diary. The Anne Frank Memorial Tree sapling was grown from the original tree, which was felled by a windstorm in 2010.
Through the Frank House in Amsterdam, chestnuts from the tree were taken for germination and grown into saplings to be donated to organizations and schools committed to carrying on her legacy.
"As the saplings take root, they will become living symbols of justice and tolerance in America for many years to come," said Simons. "The message of tolerance will spread from these eleven communities across the country, joining these historical examples of hatred and discrimination with contemporary issues."
Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com
Reid, Pelosi, Boehner and McConnell will plant tree together in front of Capitol
