Little Rock Central High School is one of 11 organizations in the country selected to receive a sapling from the horse chestnut tree that gave Anne Frank pleasure during her two years of hiding from the Nazis in the 1940’s. The sapling is a symbol of tolerance and the fight against racism and hatred.

Senior John Allen Riggins was the driving force behind Central’s proposal. “When I heard about the competition, I knew Central’s history made it a perfect candidate for this tree,” said Riggins. “The most powerful link between Anne Frank and the Little Rock Nine is that despite facing the unrestrained hatred of ignorant people, they showed bravery and hope rarely seen in the noblest adults.”

Principal Nancy Rousseau was instrumental in helping Riggins pull together the team to make the proposal. “We are fortunate to have experts like Robbie Hudson – Little Rock City Arborist, Frank Riggins – a noted landscape architect, the National Park Service, and Bemis Family Tree Farm in the extended Central family who could design the exhibit and care for the tree, this honor adds another dimension of history to LRCH.” Rousseau said.

The sapling will be planted on Central’s campus near the oldest “Silent Witness” tree, a cedar present during the 1957 crisis. The saplings will arrive in the United States from Amsterdam by the end of the year. A planting will be scheduled after the trees are quarantined to ensure they do not carry plant diseases.

Other locations selected include the White House, the World Trade Center site, and the William J. Clinton Foundation.

Reflecting on the award, Riggins said “The powerful bond between nine young black children in Arkansas and a young Jewish girl in The Netherlands is the bravery and hope to overcome hatred and intolerance.”

Click here for more information on the Anne Frank Center USA saplings project.