McEuen Gets New Freedom Tree
Workers plant the new Freedom Tree at McEuen Field. (Coeur d'Alene Today photo: Keith Erickson)
It stands 16 feet tall now, but the Freedom Tree, which was planted this afternoon on the east end of McEuen Park near the Veterans Memorial, will reach a maximum height of 50 to 75 feet with a spread of 10 to 20 feet. The Colorado Blue Spruce is known for its magnificent silver blue-green appearance. It is rated as one of the most popular evergreens. The former Freedom Tree, a 65-foot Norwegian Spruce, was removed in March 2013 as part of the McEuen Park reconstruction project. The tree was planted in the mid-60s to prevent Fourth Street from encroaching onto Tubbs Hill, but was later given the title of the Freedom Tree in 1972 following the capture of Fred McMurray, a fighter pilot from Coeur d'Alene, in Vietnam/Keith Erickson, Coeur d'Alene Today.
Question: Feel better about the removal of the original freedom tree last year?