Memory Trees : Camarillo: An ex-hostage and the daughter of a captive join Explorer Scouts in a tribute to Americans held in Lebanon.

Former hostage Tom Murry has spent six years coming to terms with the memories of the 17 days he was held captive by terrorists.

On Saturday, as he faced Jackie Scardino, the daughter of American hostage Alann Steen, Murry recounted his captivity and spoke spiritedly of his hopes for the release of the three remaining American hostages held in Lebanon.

“It’s an experience you want to shut out, and yet you can’t shut it out,” Murry said as he stood with his wife, Jeanne, on a windy field at Camarillo State Hospital.

“Until you’ve had your freedom taken away from you, the idea of a simple thing like walking out to your mailbox . . . “ the Newbury Park resident said, his voice trailing off. “It affects you the rest of your life.”

Murry’s words were nearly drowned out as gusty winds buffeted a group of 17 mentally disabled Explorer Scouts gathered to pay tribute to Murry and the hostages still held captive.

Two Scouts clutched an American flag as others cradled bouquets of white and yellow chrysanthemums that were placed around a tree previously planted for the longest-held hostage, Terry Anderson, Beirut bureau chief for The Associated Press.

Scout leader Sam Rosen, a teacher at Camarillo State Hospital for 18 years, said the Scouts have planted other trees at the hospital to remember the heroes and heroines in their lives.

Five years ago, the group planted a tree for the Challenger astronauts who died when their craft exploded. Last year, the group planted a tree for Helen Tobin, a Scout who died of cancer.

The trees were the idea of Explorer Scout Robert Syto, who planted six sweet gum trees around Camarillo State Hospital as part of a project, Rosen said.

“I’m an environmentalist, and trees are an embodiment of life,” Rosen said. “The hostages are still there in Lebanon . . . The planting of the trees is to keep the fire alive.”

Murry was abducted June 14, 1985, by Muslim extremists who hijacked a TWA flight bound for Los Angeles from Athens.

After his release 17 days later, he told reporters of the terror he suffered at the hands of his kidnapers.

On Saturday, he proudly wore the same navy blue jacket and blue shirt he wore during his captivity. It is a symbol of the freedoms that were taken away, he said.

“The memories come back,” he said softly.

Each year in June and around the holidays, Murry said, he remembers the hostages like Steen, who was abducted along with three others Jan. 24, 1987, from the campus of Beirut University College.

Before Scardino and her son, Jordan, knelt before the tree previously planted for her father, she said she has learned to rein in her hopes for his freedom. But last week, recently released hostages Terry Waite and Thomas Sutherland said Steen, Terry Anderson and Joseph Cicippio would be released before the end of the month.

Scardino’s husband, Chris, 29, said he was dismayed that he and his wife had heard so little from the State Department in recent weeks.

“We’ve not been kept apprised of what’s being done,” he said. “Our first contact is usually the news.”

For the first time in years, Scardino has allowed herself to hope for her father’s return. She said she plans to go to Germany as soon as she hears word of his release.

“This is the first time it sounds so promising,” the Thousand Oaks resident said as she held the 2 1/2-year-old grandson who Steen has never seen. “That’s why I feel so optimistic that something’s going to happen soon.”

Scardino, a substitute teacher, said she often gets questions about her father from her students. “They say, ‘Can you ever write letters to him?’ I tell them I miss him very much, of course. I miss him very much.”

Murry is also hopeful.

“We hope that the statement that the hostages will be released for Christmas will be real this time,” he said. “Hopefully, all the hostages.”