In a celebration of America's upcoming 250th birthday, St. Tammany Parish has earned the distinction of planting the first "Liberty Tree" in Louisiana. As per a Facebook announcement, St. Tammany Parish Government, in partnership with America250, initiated the statewide project with the planting of a live oak sapling — a nod to the historic Liberty Tree in Boston, a symbol of patriotism and protest that predates the American Revolution.
In the ceremony, which included the donation of the tree by Dr. Mike Strain, Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, officials selected a historically significant site for the planting. "The naming of Liberty Trees’ have deep roots in our country, echoing the original Liberty Tree in Boston that in 1765, served as the site of a rallying point and protest by patriots, later leading to the American Revolutionary War," President Cooper stated. He expressed his honor in having a Liberty Tree that will mature into a live oak treasured by the parish community, as stated by the St. Tammany Parish.
Mentioning the nautical history of the area, LA State Representative and Chairman of the America 250 Louisiana State Commission, Mike Bayham, emphasized the parish's suitability for the inaugural planting. "St. Tammany Parish is a natural kick-off for the first Liberty Tree Planting in the state. The only naval battle fought in Louisiana during the American Revolution was off the shore of Mandeville," Bayham noted, linking the present with the parish's past participation in the quest for independence, as noted by the St. Tammany Parish.
The statewide Liberty Tree initiative was backed by the Louisiana House of Representatives, which passed House Resolution 351 during the 2025 Regular Legislative Session. Each parish is encouraged to plant its own "Liberty Tree" in a locale of historic significance, forging a living tribute to the nation's revolutionary heritage and its ongoing journey toward liberty. As America gears up to mark two and half centuries of independence, Louisiana's 64 parishes are thus embarking on the symbolic act of planting roots for the next era of history, as per the St. Tammany Parish.
