Randolph Folks Invited to Help Decorate National Christmas Tree

This year, Vermont is sending a 60-ft. balsam fir to the U.S. Capitol to be installed on the Capitol Lawn.

Many communities, artists and school children are creating ornaments that will go onto the big tree and the 80 companion trees, which Vermont is also sending to Washington, D.C. for the Senate Dining Room and a variety of government offices.

The tradition of sending Christmas Trees to Washington began in 1923, when Calvin Coolidge was President. The 1923 and the 1967 trees came from Vermont, and went to the White House. Then in 1964, the practice of sending trees to the U. S. Capitol officially began. Vermont provided its first tree to the U. S. Capitol in 1980. Subsequently, trees were furnished in 1982 and 1994 and now 2007. This year’s tree is a balsam fir coming from the Green Mountain National Forest.

The caravan taking the tree to Washington plans to carry cards to give out to the 10 veterans’ hospitals it will visit. The Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce has been asked to collect 50 cards signed by community members and visitors. Cards can be brought to the Chamber office by October 30 or can be mailed by November 2, 2007 to Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, 100 Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington, Vt. 05201.

The community is also invited to join Randolph Elementary School children, who are already making an ornament to reflect the theme of "Bringing an Old Fashioned Holiday to the Nation." Everyone is invited to design and produce a variety of ornaments to send with the tree and the companion trees.

The ornaments should be made of durable materials such as wood, metals, or recycled materials that will hold up in an out-of-doors environment. They should also be lightweight and be able to withstand poor weather conditions, such as wind, rain, snow and ice storms not uncommon for December in Washington. They should be 9-12 inches in size and come with a 12-inch long heavy gauge wire (similar to wire cloths hangers) securely attached, keeping the variable weather conditions in mind.

Use reflective and colorful materials and remember that the ornaments will need to be best viewed from all sides when attached to the Christmas tree.

Since the tree is decorated throughout its 60 foot height, ornaments will be best seen that have large, easy-to-see designs, rather than designs with small details. Ornaments will not be returned.

Bring your ornaments and cards to the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce, 31 VT RT 66 by October 30.

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