05/31/2026
Here is our response to a recent Letter to the Editor by Mark Scollard.
"The Lynnfield Tree Committee deeply respects the sacred nature of our town’s War Memorial, the immense volunteer effort that went into building it, and the families of the veterans honored there. We share the community's goal and support ensuring this monument remains a beautiful, lasting tribute; however, we would like to clarify the facts regarding recent plantings and municipal oversight as discussed in Mark Scollard’s recent letter to the editor.
First, regarding the newly planted Liberty Elm in front of the memorial: this tree was planted as part of Lynnfield’s 250th anniversary celebration. Far from being an attempt to obscure the monument, the Liberty Elm is a historic, disease-resistant cultivar specifically chosen for its upright, stately growth pattern. It is a traditional American heritage tree meant to honor the space. This tree, placed by an arborist to assure a long life, is a previously agreed upon replacement street tree for that location.
Second, the author questions why the Tree Committee did not attend the original memorial planning meetings. The answer is simple: the area directly behind the memorial falls under the legal jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission as a regulated wetland buffer zone. The Tree Committee would have had no reason to attend those meetings if the project coordinators had followed established rules and submitted the mandatory planting plan to the Conservation Commission for approval before unilaterally putting trees in the ground. Mr. Scollard’s assertion that “every step in the process was done by the book” regarding the planting of these trees is patently false because that required process was entirely bypassed.
It is worth noting the irony of invoking every veteran and veteran family member as outraged over the issue of the Memorial trees. Veterans, perhaps more than any other group, understand the importance of following rules, respecting established processes, and operating within a chain of authority. That culture of discipline is central to military service. Yet it was the planting of Bradford Pears done in connection with this very memorial that ignored the required approval process, bypassed the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction, and proceeded without a mandated planting plan as is required by everyone else planting within this critical wetland area. If there is a lesson about rules and respect to be drawn here, it points in a different direction than the author suggests.
Third, the Bradford Pear trees chosen by the Veterans Committee have been recognized for years as highly problematic and are not a native species. The state’s decision to designate this tree as invasive, which prohibits its sale or future planting, was neither made lightly nor quickly by the overseeing board and recognizes its harmful ecosystem traits. The Conservation Commission has made clear at public meetings non-native species cannot be planted in a wetland buffer zone, so accordingly the Bradford Pears are required by law to be removed. The Commission has selected native red maples as the most appropriate replacement.
The Elm tree planted at the Veterans Memorial is only one of many commemorative trees planted for our 250th celebration and is one of six varieties of native trees that have been planted throughout town in conjunction with the 250th Committee chaired by Joe Connell. We can all thank the Lynnfield Planning Board for the purchase of these trees and the future replacement trees at the memorial so the Veterans Committee will not be burdened by the cost of replanting.
Finally, a matter of transparency: the author of the referenced editorial, Mark Scollard, is the brother-in-law of Joe Connell, the Veterans Committee member who spearheaded the War Memorial project. Readers can decide for themselves how that relationship colors the perspective offered.
Trees have always held symbolic weight in our culture, with those at the War Memorial even more, which is why they should be allowed to remain and flourish alongside our democracy. Our municipal committees exist to ensure that Lynnfield’s public spaces are developed safely, legally, and sustainably. The Tree Committee’s only motivation is to ensure that the landscaping surrounding this magnificent monument is as enduring, dignified, and law-abiding as the sacrifices it represents."
(Pictured: The original plaque where the historic Boston Liberty Tree once stood. This was a famous Elm tree that stood near Boston Common in the years before the American Revolution. In 1765, Patriots staged the first act of defiance against the British government at the tree.)
