The scene at the site of the Freedom Tree after it was cut down this morning. (Duane Rasmussen photo for Huckleberries Online)

Duane Rasmussen offers this description of what he saw this morning after the Freedom Tree was cut down on McEuen Field:

"A television cameraman stopped by a few minutes before ten o'clock with his camera.  I told him that they have taken the tree down earlier, probably in an attempt to avoid protesters.  He agreed and said that he had been there at 9:10 AM and the tree was already down.  I suspect he had circled back to see if  any protesters had gathered. Nick Goodwin was the worker who gave me pine cone I gave to you.  I said, Hey mister, and he walked over to the fence.  I said, can you get me two pine cones from the tree.  He said, that is easy, walked over and picked out two pine cones for me.  He was a tall guy probably in his twenties. He was friendly enough and seemed pleased to satisfy my request.  He said he worked for Parks."

Question: I suspect that the city will honor the memory of the Freedom Tree -- and build a bigger and better veterans' memorial spot on the new McEuen Field. What do you think?