A TREE WILL BE PLANTED TO HONOR A BOY’S LIFE

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A TREE WILL BE PLANTED TO HONOR A BOY’S LIFE

June 6, 2006

On April 18, Fatih Kuc, 13, died after being struck by a train south of the Broadway train station. An olive tree donated by Swan Hill Nurseries of Arizona will be planted on the hillside of Burlingame Intermediate School overlooking the soccer field where Fatih Kuc played. His friends and teachers will be part of a ceremony on June 14th that will hopefully turn a tragic event into a hopeful one. Fatih's tree will be the cornerstone in what will become the beginning of a planned "alumni hill". The plan is to turn the hillside facing the basketball courts into a tree covered sitting area where each years' Graduating class will have their own section. This years graduating class of 2006 will be the first class to have their own section of the hill.

Jeriann Fleres

– Written by coachezwife

Posted in Community Events

4 responses to “A TREE WILL BE PLANTED TO HONOR A BOY’S LIFE”

Cathryn Baylock

June 6, 2006

Thank you Jeriann for posting this. Is this a public ceremony or private one for just the school kids?
Anonymous

June 6, 2006

It will just be a private school ceremony. Thanks Cathy.

Jeriann Fleres
Anonymous

June 7, 2006

I think it would be something to consider planting a row of trees. The trees representing an awareness. Awareness of the mistakes of youth, and the knowledge gained. A barrier that will grow to remind the left behind, that something special happened. CalTrain may not be able to provide a “fence”. However the significance of a tree barrier will be able to live for a lomg time.

It can happen.
Anonymous

June 9, 2006

Liz Harrelson’s article in the Daily News:

Sophocles once called the olive tree a “tree that feeds the children.? For Burlingame Intermediate School students still pained by the loss of one of their peers, hopes are that the planting of a donated olive tree in memory of Fatih Kuc will cultivate personal growth in light of a bitter life lesson. Kuc, 13, was killed by a charging locomotive near the Broadway Caltrain station on the afternoon of April 18 while using an illegal path to cross the tracks with a group of friends. We want to bring closure for all of the students, staff and the school district regarding Fatih’s passing away,? said Sonny Da Marto, Burlingame School District superintendent. We are hoping that through this memorial, that the people who are affected will have some closure.? The idea to plant an olive tree came from a student, and the idea was made a reality by a donation from a Colma nursery, said Burlingame Intermediate School Principal Ted Barone. It was a student’s idea to plant the olive tree because of Fatih’s heritage in Turkey,? Barone said.

The tree will be planted in an area overlooking the school’s soccer field where Kuc played, and will mark the beginning of what Barone unofficially referred to as the Alumni Hill? project, which will transform the underutilized area into a place of solace for students, staff and others looking for a moment’s peace. Branches from Kuc’s memorial olive tree will shade them, Barone said. Every graduating class will make a contribution of a tree and to the sitting area,? said Barone. It’s a vision we’re trying to figure out how we can turn it into reality.? The olive tree will be planted in a private ceremony next week.

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