WESTFIELD – In a timely display of patriotism and remembrance, representatives from across the Westfield community came together Tuesday morning to plant the Town’s own Liberty Tree in a corner of what is now Washington-Rochambeau Trail Park on Mountain Avenue.

The event, held less than a week before the nation’s 250th anniversary, drew local historians, curious neighbors, elected officials and business owners to the park, which was recently renamed in honor of General George Washington’s historic march to Yorktown.

“This all started about five years ago,” said Julie Diddel, Executive Director of the Washington-Rochambeau Trail Alliance of New Jersey, “and it has taken a lot of cooperation to make it happen.”

In 1781, French allies joined General George Washington’s Continental Army as it made its way from Rhode Island to Virginia. The 680mile march (which passed directly through Westfield) took the company to its final victory in Yorktown, which secured the end of the Revolutionary War and established the United States of America as an independent country.

The Westfield Town Council officially voted to change the name of what was once known as Triangle Park to Washington-Rochambeau Park last year. The park (which happens to be the oldest one in Westfield) will celebrate its official grand reopening during the Town’s annual March To Yorktown event in August, but officials were pleased to unveil its new signage as part of Tuesday’s tree-planting ceremony.

The park was created as the Town’s first public green space in 1906 after a group of residents decided to come together and save it from development. It once played home to a cannon from the Spanish-American War that was eventually melted down to supplement military efforts during World War II.

“We need to thank our forefathers and foremothers for saving this park for us,” Diddel said.

The Liberty Tree (a young Princeton Elm) was planted as part of a national endeavor by the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) to install 250 similar trees before July 4 of this year. The organization says via its website that it hopes to see at least one Liberty Tree in every state. “The Liberty tree stood in Boston Common 250 years ago and was actually cut down by the British to shut down dissent,” Westfield Mayor Jeremy Berman said, “This was a place where our forefathers gathered to format our independence. Not only should we look back and honor their efforts, but we should also think about our obligations as public servants and as citizens of our communities.”

Berman expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the project and noted that planting trees is a great way to “leave our Town better than we found it” for future generations. Chris Sands, President of the NJ Chapter of the SAR, echoed similar sentiments.

“We’re glad that we could make this happen,” he said.

Westfield’s 7th annual March to Yorktown Day will be held on Sunday, August 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Washington-Rochambeau Trail Park. The event will feature live re-enactments, a symbolic community march and patriotic music.