Hindu leaders have joined fans of late Beatles starGeorge Harrison in calling for Los Angeles City officials to replant a tree tribute to the singer/songwriter after learning the pine that bore his name has died.
The George Harrison Memorial Tree was planted in Griffith Park in 2004 in memory of Harrison, who was a follower of Hinduism, but the pine mysteriously died in June (14).
U.S. Hindu leader Rajan Zed has urged Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to investigate the reasons of the death of the tree and plant another immediately.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, tells Wenn, “I wonder why the City is taking so much time to replant a replacement tree in memory of such a well-known humanitarian and avid gardener, who lived in Los Angeles in his later years and died there.
“Insect infestation and California’s ongoing drought are being given as the causes of death of this tree, which grew about 12 feet near Griffith Observatory.”
The plaque at the base of The George Harrison Memorial Tree still remains. It reads: “In memory of a great humanitarian who touched the world as an artist, a musician and a gardener… For the forest to be green, each tree must be green.”