by Danielle Crosier, Bennington Banner

For the past 15 years, Verrall and Don Keelan of Arlington have donated a living holiday tree to the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington, and they continued that custom last Monday.

Don Keelan supervised the felling of a 16.5-foot balsam fir from their property – and readied it for transport.

In attendance were officers of the Vermont State Police, friends, and community members.

“I’m just happy to be here today,” said Lt. Steven Coote, station commander for the Shaftsbury State Trooper barracks, who was present for the harvesting of the conifer that stands over a story tall.

“We enjoy our time working with Mr. Keelan to make sure that the veterans get a Christmas tree every year. It’s a great event,” Coote said.

Jim White of Shaftsbury, who selected the tree from Keelan’s property, is a former Vermont Forester.

Dave Zsido, of Rutland, took the tree down with his chainsaw.

For decades, Keelan, White, and Zsido have been involved in numerous efforts to supply holiday trees to special destinations.

In 2007, Keelan explained, Zsido led a convoy of vehicles delivering a 60-foot tree from Green Mountain National Forest to the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C., making stops along the way to deliver 92 Christmas trees to a handful of veterans homes along the way.

That 2007 trip also included delivery of a 25-footer to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. In 2014, a 33-foot tree was given to the capital of Vermont.

Steve McClafferty, finance director for the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington, beamed as the tree was secured for transport.

“It’s always an honor and a privilege – these trees that he grows here to deliver to our veterans – who’ve fought so much for us over the years of World War II, all the way to our current peacetime operations and wartime operations,” he said.

Coote also explained the connection the event had with the state police barracks in Shaftsbury.

“It’s our unofficial start of the holiday season,” he said. “It kind of kicks off the holiday season for our barracks.”

Trooper Ryan Criss, also present for the event, led the official police escort from the Keelan family residence to the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington.

“This is the second time I’ve done the veterans tree delivery,” said Criss. “Today, I’ll be leading the convoy to the veterans home where we’ll be delivering the tree for the people who reside there.”

Phillip Burnham, an Arlington resident and business owner whose wife works at the veterans home, participated and assisted in the felling and transport operation.

“It’s been a real honor to be involved in witnessing this,” he said of the event, referencing Keelan’s donation of the tree.

“It’s a great opportunity to give back and show respect to the people that have served our country in the past,” Criss elaborated. “We always enjoy doing stuff like this for the community.”

After being displayed at the main entrance last year, this year’s tree was erected in the nearby gazebo.

Members of the Vermont Veterans Home were on site to receive Keelan’s final gift for the season, nearly 100 holiday remembrance “challenge coins.”

“The coins will be passed out to the veterans in residence on Christmas morning,” assured Asa Morin, COO and deputy administrator of the Vermont Veterans home in Bennington.

“On December 6, we have the tree lighting,” she said. “December 6, at 5:30 p.m. – Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot cocoa, and the MAU choir.”

Republished with permission of Bennington Banner