patterson, editor of the washington times herald, went down to the tidal basin. one day and chained themselves a number of cherry trees, blocking vehicles from being able to come in and, remove the trees. they ultimately a concession that any trees removed would be replanted elsewhere along the tidal basin. for more than 100 years, the cherry trees have a beloved institution in washington d.c. symbolizing the friendship between the people of the united states. the people of japan. in the wake of the attack on pearl harbor in 1941, the love for the trees was put to the test. washingtonians for the duration of world war two would cease, referring them as the japanese flowering cherry, instead referring to them merely as the oriental cherry trees. and in fact in february of 1942, there was damage to a number of the trees and and markings left behind, indicating that it was in retaliation for the attack on harbor. following the dedication of the jefferson memorial in 1943, tidal basin would continue to become home to some of dc's most treasured landmarks franklin del