Forged Iron Memory Tree

D. Holmes Morton, MD is an American physician specializing in genetic disorders of Old Order Amish and Mennonite children. In 1989, he established the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pennsylvania to focus on these diseases.

Morton received the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism in 1993 and was named one of Time Magazine's 'Heroes of Medicine' in 1997. In 2006, he was awarded a MacArthur Foundation 'genius grant' for his work. When the clinic was founded 25 years ago, a Japanese maple was planted by the clinics entrance to honor several families whose children died before the clinic came into being.

Two iron sculptures of that tree were created by a grateful Amish father. Three of his seven children had severe acid reflux. Because of the clinic, his children are now healthy.

He made one sculpted tree for the clinics garden and another for auction to raise money for the Clinic. The Father asked the galvanizer to galvanize his tree sculptures to protect them from corrosion. So, with special rigging and careful handling, the galvanizer was able to do so and donated the effort to the Clinic.