Friday, May 04

By Donald Keelan

Weekly, millions of Americans are glued to their televisions to watch their favorite reality show and discover who might be chosen the finalists.

"The Amazing Race," "Survivor," "American Idol" and "Dancing With The Stars" have contestants that for a series of weeks complete vigorously and courageously, to be the chosen one. However, what they have had to endure does not come close to what a group of finalists in the Green Mountain National Forest had to overcome and it was not measured in weeks, but years - 60 years.

Shortly, one tree from a stand of balsams will be chosen to be the 2007 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. There is only one judge in this contest. And he is Ted Bechtol, Deputy Superintendent, U.S. Capitol Grounds. Mr. Bechtol will exercise his judgment within a few months, at which time he will visit the Green Mountain National Forest and inspects the finalists.

These finalists have endured decades of wind, ice, snow, insects, disease and beavers. The balsams stand majestically, close to one another and waiting to find out which one of them will be elected to represent the Green Mountain National Forest and Vermont before the Nation, in December, on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

Whichever tree is the selected one (and it could very well be none of them), will follow a long line of their uncles, aunts and cousins, that had been taken each year since 1967 from our national

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forests. They were the symbol of not only the forest from which they came, but also the state.

In November, Vermonters will be delivering a tree to Washington. In fact they will be transporting close to 75 trees. These smaller versions are referred to as the companion trees. And thanks to the generosity of the New Hampshire/Vermont Christmas Tree Association, our government offices in Washington D.C. will experience the quality of our New England forests and tree growers.

The financial and physical contribution of members from the Green Mountain "Bull Dawg" Chapter of The Antique Truck Club of America is manifested in their task by transporting the trees - in 20 to 25 of their antique Mack trucks. It will take seven days to get to Washington.

The trees are now shedding their last experience of being laden with snow and ice. In eight months, they will be laden not with anything that nature had provided, but with ornaments made by thousands of school children and artists. Approximately 4,500 ornaments will be made for the Capitol Tree and 3,000 for the companion trees.

The Christmas Tree growers, the drivers, the children and the artists are one segment of the operation that will be bringing from Vermont "Bennington - An Old Fashioned Holiday To The Nation." They are joined by other partners, for whom without their support, the task would be impossible.

Personnel from the Green Mountain National Forest as well as from the United States Forest Service are playing a significant role. Not only is the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree coming from the GMNF that they are the stewards of; this year they are celebrating its 75th Anniversary on April 25, 1932. The first of four celebrations will be held on May 19 at Hapgood Pond in Peru/Landgrove.

The United States Forest Service physical, financial and leadership support has been augmented by the Vermont Legislature, the Governor and by the Bennington Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's role has been monumental as well as inspirational to all who serve on the committee and behind the scenes.

When it comes time to set up the harvesting equipment and transporting the tree, (Nov. 15 and 16) countless other companies, organizations and individuals will have joined in the effort. And in doing so will show the nation the quality of Vermont's stewardship of its forests, the quality of its products (many companies will be providing such) and the resourcefulness of its people.

In recent months, Vermont has not been treated kindly by the national media. That is about to change. And it will happen when the nation hears and sees what we are about. And a 58-foot balsam, that has stood for 60 years in the forest is the symbol of what we stand for - resilience, quality, and unity.

Don Keelan lives in Arlington.

His column appears every other Friday.