Royal Musings: George VI: The Witness Tree slated for removal

Saturday, November 2, 2024

George VI: The Witness Tree slated for removal

all photos are the copyright of Robbie Morris

In June 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth made a State Visit to the United States. This was the first visit by a reigning British sovereign to the USA. On June 9, the King and Queen visited George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, on the banks of the Potomac, south of Alexandria.

After visiting Mount Vernon, the King and Queen were driven to Fort Hunt Park, a few minutes drive on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. In 1939, Fort Hunt was used as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. Fort Hunt is now a National Park.

In October, the NPS offered a free movie every Friday night. The theme was World War II, and the first movie was The King's Speech, starring Colin Firth as King George VI. My friend Robbie and I went to see the movie. The movie was shown on a screen in one of the park's pavilions. There were plenty of snacks and drinks. Yes, I have seen the movie several times. It was a lovely warm night and a good conversation.

After the movie, the Park Ranger (his name was not Rick). The Ranger discussed several topics including the Witness Tree, planted to commemorate the King's visit to Fort Hunt.

Before the King left for the United States, he invited Richard St. Barbe Baker to Buckingham Palace to discuss the visit to Fort Hunt. St. Barbe Baker (1889-1982) was an environmentalist. He studied forestry and botany and was an early observer of the dangers of deforestation. He was an early advocate "of understanding the need for international cooperation when it came to tree planting and desert reclamation."

In 1931, St. Barbe Baker met with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Their conversation focused on the importance of trees and conversations. Two years, the president created the Civilian Conservation Corps, for "single men between the ages of 18 and 25 to enlist in work programs to improve America’s public lands, forests, and parks."

https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-civilian-conservation-corps.htm

St. Barbe Barker established the Men of the Trees organization, now the International Tree Foundation in 1922.

https://www.internationaltreefoundation.org/

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-witness-tree-planted-by-king-george.html

@Robbie Morris

The King and Queen spent about 30 minutes before they departed for Arlington National Cemetery. Soon after their departure, Richard St. Barbe Baker planted two trees at Fort Hunt to commemorate the "success of the CCC and the royal visit."

One of the trees died some time ago. The other tree, an Oak Pin, is now slated for removal as it is dying. I hope the National Park Service will plant two new trees to commemorate the 1939 visit and the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps.