The trees were officially planted in New York’s Carlyle Hotel on Monday as an initiative by the state-run State of Poland Foundation, the Polish consulate in New York and the Tree Time Foundation, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, who is making a visit to the United States, lent his support to the event.
Several of the apple trees have been named after Poles and Americans who had made a particular contribution to Polish-American heritage and friendship, the PAP news agency reported.
They include Polish and American independence heroes Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski, as well as former US President Ronald Reagan.
Poland’s Consul General in New York, Adrian Kubicki, noted the contribution of the Polish community to building “the American dream” and the role of many Americans in the strengthening of bilateral relations.
He added that “Polish-American relations today are more important than ever.”
Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, CEO of Poland’s National Development Bank (BGK), which runs the State of Poland Foundation, told reporters: “The apple is a symbol of hospitality, health and prosperity. Our aim is to ensure that Poland evokes such associations.”
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, dziennik.pl