The tree, a 55-foot balsam fir, was selected from the Green Mountain National Forest in Somerset. It begins its journey to the Capitol building on Nov. 19 with a convoy of Vermont residents and antique Mack trucks, which will also haul about 80 companion trees to pass out along the way.
This year's tree has been dedicated to veterans and the convoy will stop at several veterans' hospitals, including the Walter Reed Army Medical Center before arriving in Washington to be lit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Dec. 5.
Vermont has previously provided Christmas trees for the nation's Capitol in 1923, 1967, 1980, 1982 and 1994.
Several dignitaries, including Sen. Patrick Leahy, Rep. Peter Welch and Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie were on hand Monday to help with the dedication and listen to holiday music performed by the Mount Anthony Union High School chorus and band.
"Let's not forget the sacrifice of our men and women," Leahy told a large crowd packed into a room at the Vermont Veterans Home. "We know what the sacrifice is and we should remember it everyday, not just on Veterans' Day."
Welch said the tree, the convoy and all of the work put into bringing the tree to the
"We are going to send a message of hope to America and we are going to send a message of enduring respect to our veterans," Welch said. "It's a part of Vermont that will be at the nation's Capitol and we'll be proud of it. But, I think more important than the bragging rights is the effort that went into it."
For Dubie, the tree provides a chance for the state to spread holiday cheer and love to veterans of all ages. The tree will make stops at veterans homes in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.
"This journey is really about taking the love of this season, the love in this room, and bring it to this home and others. This journey is really about love," Dubie said.
Leahy said he would be hosting a party in the Capitol building for those making the journey to Washington with the convoy, but quickly changed his mind and said all Vermonters were welcome.
"Just tell them you're from Vermont and you want to go to Sen. Leahy's party," he said.
Leahy and Dubie helped two veterans home residents, William Mufatti, a Coast Guard and Navy veteran from Pittsfield, Mass., and William Carroll, an Army veteran from Shaftsbury, light the tree presented to the home.
More festivities were held Monday evening, including a parade of the convoy down a luminary-lined Main Street. The trucks slowly made their way down the street with their antique engines roaring and horns honking to loud cheers from the hundreds of people gathered to watch. The MAU chorus led the parade-goers in caroling before the town's Christmas tree was lit.
The convoy will leave Bennington to this morning and travel north to Rutland before heading south to Danbury, Conn., on Wednesday.
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