Mississippi trees used in Mayflower replica

An effort to restore a replica of the Mayflower which brought pilgrims to America in 1620 is underway in New England. Crews from up north are on the Coast harvesting live oaks to add a little piece of our history to theirs.
What took a few hours to cut down marked long standing memories for Kathy Volkman, whose parents owned a bed and breakfast on property in Pass Christian. “It was a beautiful old tree. We always imagined climbing it if we lived here as children and I’m going to kind of miss it.”
While a recent lightning strike killed this live oak tree, it was a tree just like this one that saved her mother’s life during Hurricane Katrina. “Unfortunately my dad passed away in the storm. The house was taken out and my mom hung from some trees back in the back of the property along with a couple other people who were staying with her,” said Volkman.
Now both trees have been uprooted, but this one will find new life on the East Coast. It’s wood grafted into an effort to restore the Mayflower II in Mystic, Connecticut. Shipyard Director at Mystic Seaport Quentin Snediker said, “We’re charged with restoring the vessel fully in order to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims arriving on the Mayflower back in 1620. Our goal is to have the vessel fully functional again in time to make that celebration.”
Soon after lightning struck the tree a few months ago, Kathy’s mother, Diane Brugger, reached out to non profit Plymouth Plantation and offered up the tree. The group accepted and now this tree will be added to other storm damaged trees to help out with their revitalization project of the historic ship. “These trees have to come down anyway, whether it’s for power lines, road building, for development, or in this case struck by lightning. We feel it’s a great way to harvest material without having to do much environmental damage,” said Snediker.
For Kathy Volkman, it’s also a standing reminder and tribute to one of the most important people in her life. “I’m all about recycling and to be able to do something like this, it’s just very meaningful. It’s a legacy for my dad.”