Saying goodbye to an old tree告别古树

赵千秋

A handful of people gathered inBethesda to say goodbye to the largestwhite oak in Montgomery County. The treewas estimated to be more than 300 yearsold. At around 9 am Tuesday， a chain sawbuzzed as the blade bit into one of the Lindenoak's limbs. Workers dressed in yellowvests and hard hats on a sunny， humid dayused a crane to lower the branches of thetree before wrapping them in chains to securethem and saw them off.

A handful of people stood along theroad at Beach Drive and Rockville Pike inNorth Bethesda to say goodbye—waiting towitness the removal of the largest whiteoak in Montgomery County. The Lindenoak， which was said to be more than 300years old， died last summer. The tree， witha rotting trunk and lost limbs， should becut down to avoid danger， authorities decided.

Residents gazed at the workerssawing the arms of the tree and expressedsorrow. Kira Lueders， 83， parked her caron the side of the road for one last look atthe tree she'd known for 60 years. “I'velived here since 1975. I've loved thattree，” Nemcosky said.“ I have to say goodbyeto that tree.”

After five hours of work， the tree'slimbs no longer towered in the sky， andnothing was left except the 20?foot?tall remainsof a barren old oak. Local carverColin Vale will sculpt the tree into a benchfor Montgomery Parks. He said the benchwill pay homage to the tree's legacy.

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Why was the largest white oak in Montgomery County being removed？

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