Anne Frank's Tree Grows in Arkansas
The chestnut tree that Anne Frank admired so often during her two years of hiding from Nazi soldiers in Amsterdam will soon find a home in 11 new places. Although the 150 year old tree is reaching the end of its life, its saplings will be planted in places dedicated to fighting intolerance. The sites were chosen by the Anne Frank Center USA in Lower Manhattan and include places like Little Rock Nine (the Arkansas high school where black students were first integrated in 1957) and Boston Common. A young girl researching her Bat Mitzvah project asked Boston mayor Thomas M. Menino to request the sapling. You can learn more about all the sites in this New York Times article.
Anne mentioned the chestnut tree several times in her diary, which was one of the few glimpses of the outside world available to her while she was in hiding. On February 23, 1944 she wrote of the tree:
"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 sea gulls and other birds as they glide on the wind."
Later, six months before she was captured Anne wrote: "When I looked outside right into the depth of nature and God, then I was happy, really happy."
Anne died at age 15 from a bout of typhus while in the Bergen-Belgen concentration camp.
I’d suggest using a phrase different from “a bout of typhus.” Anne and her sister died suffering and naked, in filth, fever, misery and degradation. One can have a bout of a stomach flu or a cold; what they suffered at the end deserves stronger language, in my opinion.
Hi Elaine – Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I think it’s clear that Anne suffered horribly during her time in the Bergen-Belgen concentration camp and I doubt using the word “bout” to describe her suffering from typhus will undermine the way people understand the extent of her experience. However, I do understand the sentiments you are sharing and am glad you took the time to post a comment!