Visitors to Germantown Union Cemetery on Memorial Day will see a new tree with historic ties at the site’s entrance. The 35-foot American Elm tree was planted in late April.

The tree is a clone of “Herbie” an American Elm tree from Yarmouth, Maine that dates back to the 1700s. The original tree lived for 217 years and reached a height of 110 feet. Herbie became famous after battling fifteen bouts of Dutch Elm disease. The tree was cut down in 2010.

The "Liberty Elm" (Ulmus americana 'American Liberty') is a group of six genetically distinct American elm cultivars developed to resist Dutch elm disease. Historically, it honors the iconic 1646 Boston elm where early patriots protested British taxation

German Township Trustee Jacob Stubbs, along with members of the Germantown Cemetery Board, worked to have the tree ready for Memorial Day as part of the community’s celebration of America 250.

The tree was purchased with donations from the Dupps Company and the Germantown Lions Club from the Liberty Tree Society in New Hampshire. Each tree is registered and comes with a 10-year warranty against Dutch elm disease.

Dutch elm disease, from the Elm bark beetle, killed more than 300 million American Elms. The Liberty Tree Society is an offshoot of the Elm Research Institute, founded in 1967 to research ways to save the trees.

The tree, when originally planted in April did not have many leaves, but it has grown since then.

The Cemetery Board, with assistance from German Township, moved a flagpole and marker at the entrance of the cemetery to make room for the tree.

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