City of Oviedo plants Liberty Tree as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration

Suspended from a bucket truck beside Oviedo City Hall, a massive American flag swayed in the morning breeze above a young hickory tree on June 25, as veterans, elected officials and residents gathered to commemorate a symbol whose roots trace back to the birth of the United States.

Editor’s note: Follow the hyperlinks in this article for a history lesson ahead of America’s 250th birthday. 

The tree was designated as Oviedo’s “Liberty Tree” and is one of seven trees being planted throughout Seminole County as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Organizers said the project aims to promote civic engagement and remind residents of the importance of participating in public discussion.

Veterans from American Legion Post 243 stood at attention near the newly planted hickory tree, donated by A Budget Tree Service, while city leaders and community members participated in the ceremonial shovel turning outside City Hall.

“The real Liberty Tree was a big deal back in the day,” Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek said. “The idea of having gathering places in every single community, I love it.”

The original Liberty Tree stood in Boston in the years leading up to the American Revolution, becoming a gathering place for colonists protesting British policies. Sladek said members of the Sons of Liberty met under the tree to organize demonstrations against British authority.

Despite being cut down by British soldiers and loyalists in 1775, its symbolism has carried on long after its destruction.

American Legion Post 243 Commander Larry Kayne said communities across the country are now planting Liberty Trees to continue that legacy.

“The tree in Boston is the mother, and the trees that we plant throughout the country today are branches of that tree,” Kayne said. “It keeps it alive and promotes new growth.”

While the original tree in Boston was an elm, Oviedo chose to plant a hickory tree.

According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, hickory species such as the pignut hickory are native to Florida and are known for producing strong, durable wood commonly used for tools and furniture. 

These trees can reach heights of 80 to 90 feet and live an average of 200 years. Their nuts provide a food source for local wildlife including foxes, squirrels and bears.

Sladek said she likes the choice of the hickory tree because its nuts are edible and, in her eyes, symbolize the community coming together despite any differences of opinion.

“I love all the subliminal messaging that comes along with a hickory tree, like, ‘Hey, let’s have a barbecue, and everybody come together,’” Sladek said. “It doesn’t matter what we disagree about when it comes to politics; everybody’s got to eat.”

Sladek said one of the most meaningful aspects of the Liberty Tree is that it was never about the tree itself, but about the people who gathered beneath it. The tree was a place where people exchanged ideas and discussed issues that affected them. 

“It’s important for us to rekindle and remember the things that we rallied around once that are still important today,” Sladek said. “We still need meeting places, and it’s one of those things that no matter how much things have changed, we still need them.”

Seminole County Commissioner and event speaker Bob Dallari said the dedication was about more than commemorating the nation’s founding. He said he hopes these Liberty Trees will encourage all Seminole County residents to feel comfortable speaking with their local officials.

“This is not just about planting a tree; it’s about commemorating what happened 250 years ago, and it also allows us to focus on what’s important in this country,” Dallari said. “It’s about the ability to speak our piece without hesitation and without retribution, and that’s what makes this country so great.”

Residents interested in becoming more involved in local government and their community can:

Attend meetings:

• Oviedo City Council
• Winter Springs City Commission
• Seminole County Commission
• Seminole County School Board

Contact your elected leaders:

• Oviedo elected officials
• Winter Springs elected officials
• Seminole County commissioners
• Seminole County School Board

Seminole Cultural Arts Council Executive Director and event speaker Deborah Bauer said the tree’s significance is tied directly to civic participation. She said organizers hope the county-wide Liberty Tree initiative encourages residents to remain involved in their communities long after the celebration ends.

“It reminds us of where we’ve come from, because Seminole County is seen as this area where we’ve had people from many other places come and call it home,” Bauer said. “We are all unified in the fact that we live in this great county, and it’s something we honor and respect, and I think these trees are coming to symbolize that.”

The ceremony also prompted attendees to reflect on Oviedo’s history and how the city has changed over time.

Longtime resident Pat Summers said that the sense of community has remained the same since she first came to Oviedo in 1972.

“We all come together for everything,” Summers said. “Whether people are in need or just to have fun, we just all come together.”

Summers said that while the city has changed so much since she first moved here, the history remains with residents.

“I’m afraid we’ve lost a lot of our history through tear-downs and new construction and all that, but we still have that hometown feeling,” Summers said. “We don’t have the buildings, but we have it in our hearts.”