In Memory of Elaine Cillo


Elaine Cillo was 40 years old and from Brooklyn, New York. Elaine worked for Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. on the 97th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, at 8:46am, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the northern facade of the North Tower ripping a path across floors 94 to 98, directly into the office of Marsh & McLennan Companies.

Life on Ground Zero - The Survivor Tree

The Survivor Tree is a callery pear tree. It was recovered from the rubble at the World Trade Center site in October 2001, long after recovery workers expected to find anything alive at the site. At the time of its recovery it was 8 feet tall, badly burned, and it had only one living branch. Prior to the attacks, the tree had lived at the World Trade Center site for several decades. It was originally planted in the 1970s in the area near buildings four and five, close to Church Street.

The tree has been looked after by several different people over the years.

In December 2010, the Survivor Tree, now grown to a height of 30 feet, was returned to the World Trade Center site.

The tree is a symbol of hope and rebirth.