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Letter from Governor James H. Douglas This year's Capitol Christmas Tree is a gift from the people of Vermont. The Bennington Chamber of Commerce, Green Mountain National Forest, and our many partners are all working to safely deliver this prestigious tree to the nation's capitol this December. This is actually the fifth time that Vermont has provided a tree to Washington, DC. Our state is continuing the tradition we began in 1967, 1980, 1982, 1994 and now 2007. Our tree is a balsam fir coming from the Green Mountain National Forest. What makes this especially exciting is that the Green Mountain National Forest is celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2007.
We have several committee members who worked on the 1994 project. This year we are reaching out to many statewide partners including the Vermont Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Vermont Arts Council, Vermont Ski Area Association and many more as you will see on our Partners Page.
Approximately 4,500 ornaments will be provided for the Capitol Tree. In addition another 3,000 ornaments will travel down with our 70 Companion Trees. While we are cutting these trees from the National Forest and from the Vermont, New Hampshire Tree Growers Association, we are purchasing and distributing hundreds of balsam tree seedlings through our local events. These seedlings will be planted to supply trees for the future.
The Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce is planning several local events that will integrate the "Year of the Tree" in our community. Our celebrations will also feature some of the keepsake ornaments and other memorabilia to commemorate the occasion. Vermont Life will be featuring an in depth article on the project next holiday season. We are planning a video record of our adventure. What makes this project so different is the level of volunteer workers who are making the process possible. Vermonters believe in the simple old fashioned approach. We intend to have a lot of fun bringing our gift to the people of the United States.
The Cutting Ceremony and Official Caravan Kick-off will feature our Honorary Chairperson, retired US Senator James Jeffords and 2006 Winter Gold Medalist, Hannah Teter, as well as our Vermont Governor, James Douglas. The Washington DC Lighting Ceremony and Reception will be coordinated through Senator Patrick Leahy's Office with assistance from Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch and their staffs. We will feature Vermont products at the Reception at the Botanical Gardens.
A special element of our extensive truck caravan trip will be the mission we have undertaken to visit several Veteran Homes/Hospitals with trees and gifts along our route. Our Vermont Veterans' Home is here in Bennington and will be the site of our Trip Kick-off. Our goal is to bring old fashioned holiday cheer to many of our country's wounded veterans with the ultimate destination to be Walter Reed Hospital. This promises to be a very special project. Please watch the web site as we move forward. History of the Capitol Tree John McCormack, Speaker of the House until 1971, began the tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree in 1964. The first was a live Douglas fir planted on the west front law of the U.S. Capitol. After the 1968 tree lighting ceremony, the tree died and was removed. In 1969, the tradition continued using a tree assembled from portions of three eastern white pines. This proved unsatisfactory and resulted in the Capitol Architect approaching the Forest Service for assistance. Since 1970, the "People's Tree" has come from one of the nation's National Forests. The Capitol Christmas Tree is not to be confused with the National Christmas Tree, which is planned near the White House and is lit by the President and the First Lady. |
