New England Patriots and One Tree Planted Create Memorial Garden in Honor of 9/11

Kaylee Brzezinski | September 10, 2021 | 4 min read

The September 11 Attacks, also known as 9/11, forever changed the lives of Americans. To this day, stories are swapped about where we were when we heard that planes had hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. While much healing has been done, the memory is still very vivid for most Americans — even 20 years later. 

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we created a memorial garden at Gillette Stadium with the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001. On September 9th 2021, a ceremony was held at the stadium to launch the opening of two other exhibits for the 20th anniversary of 9/11: a display wall, and a memorial of steel from the World Trade Center.

Gillette Stadium memorial garden
memory rocks for 9/11 victims
Gillette Stadium


The Memorial Garden

The garden features a semi-circle of six flowering dogwood trees, one to represent each of the six New England states. Memory stones, which were created by players and cheerleaders of the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution, were placed at the base of the trees to recognize lives lost from New England.

Dogwood trees are a perfect representation of having the ability to thrive during challenging times even as they bloom. This landscape tree, which is native to North America, is symbolic of rebirth and change. It also has a rich history in the region, as Indigenous people would use the blossoming of the dogwood trees as sign of the changing seasons, to begin planting their harvest, particularly corn. This garden will be open to the public. 

Men planting large tree
Joshua Kraft giving speech
men in front of gillette stadium
Robert Kraft and men in front of gillette stadium
men planting a garden
memorial garden


A Team Effort

In true New England fashion, this memorial garden was a team effort. As a country, we've had to unite over the last 20 years to heal from this experience. And like trees, we're stronger when we stand together. We hope that this 9/11 Memorial Tree Planting serves as a reminder of our collective strength in overcoming hardships. Not only will these trees be a living installation of resilience, they will provide hope and beauty to all those who visit the garden to remember the brave souls who endured this tragic event. 

If you would like to honor a loved one, you may plant a tree here

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Brazil Waterfall
Brazil Biodiversity
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Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most
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Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most

As the need for reforestation is global and ever-changing, we feature where trees are most needed now. This project supports Brazil, a country well-known for its rich ecological diversity. Learn more

With your help, we will:

  • Support the habitats of Brazil's iconic wildlife species
  • Restore forests and improve the connectivity of fragmented forests
  • Provide jobs to community members and smallholder farming families
  • The Atlantic Forest, also known as Mata Atlantica, was once an expansive tropical rainforest ecosystem that covered 130 million hectares in Brazil. Sadly, centuries of deforestation for timber, sugar cane, coffee, cattle ranching, and urban sprawl have led to its decline, and it now occupies only 12% of its original size. But, there is still hope! Our planting efforts work towards restoring this vital ecosystem and its diverse tree species. Our focus is on areas such as western São Paulo State, where the Mooro do Diablo State Park and the Black Lion Tamarin Ecological Station are located, as well as many other forest fragments that are in need of restoration. We are planting trees, protecting the remaining forest, and promoting sustainable practices to preserve this beautiful environment for generations to come!
  • Our partners in Brazil are creating one of Brazil’s most significant reforestation corridors, connecting the Morro do Diablo State Park and the Black Lion Tamarin Ecological station. This will benefit endemic and endangered species, improve the livelihoods of thousands of families, and mitigate harmful edge effects. The project includes restoring significant private lands, promoting the occupation of restored areas by fauna, changing land use practices, improving small farmers' livelihoods, and providing high-quality carbon offsets. The program promotes sustainable agriculture and forest landscape restoration, influenced by policies that affect land use and conservation.
  • A personalized tree certificate (see gallery) to say thanks for your donation. We'll also send you reports about our Brazil project, so you can track the impact your trees are having on the ground!
  • We take great care in selecting species for our planting sites, ensuring that all of them are native to the Atlantic Forest. Our list of approximately 100 species includes rare and endangered species such as the Aspidosperma polyneuron (Endangered), Cariniana legalis (Vulnerable), Cedrela fissilis (Vulnerable), Zeyheria tuberculosa (Vulnerable), and Balfourodendron riedelianum (Near Threatened).


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