Marshall Plan Tree Walk Opens With a Flare

Holiday Tree Display Open to Public Until January

The Marshall Center kicked off the holiday season with a fun-filled tree lighting ceremony at Dodona Manor this past weekend. One hundred attendees reveled in the holiday spirit, including senior diplomats, local leaders and families.

The event opened our annual Marshall Plan Tree Walk, which is open to the public until January, featuring 18 beautifully decorated trees, representing the United States and the 17 European nations that participated in the European Recovery Program.

This year’s tree walk is particularly special, as we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of Secretary Marshall’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1953.

Senior diplomats representing three Marshall Plan nations were in attendance, including the Embassy of Norway’s Deputy Chief of Mission Torleiv Opland, the Embassy of Portugal’s Deputy Chief of Mission Alexandra Bilreiro and the Embassy of France’s General Counsel Caroline Monvoisin.

Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk joined Marshall Center Board Chair Tom Greenspon and Board member Randy Minchew for the official lighting.

France’s tree was decorated by the embassy with a special theme honoring the 80th anniversary of the beloved classic novella, “The Little Prince.” Portugal’s tree was decorated by the embassy with handmade ornaments crafted by local Portuguese children.

Music to Free, a non-profit performance group that brings handbell programs to low/fixed-income senior living centers, veteran rehabilitation programs and addiction treatment programs, performed selections of holiday songs. Purely Picnics provided a very popular s'mores station.

America’s tree is sponsored and decorated by Fortinet Federal; Italy’s tree is sponsored and decorated by Cucinamore; and the United Kingdom’s tree is sponsored and decorated by the Maid Brigade.

In his remarks, DCM Opland highlighted the vital role the Marshall Plan played in Norway’s post-World War II recovery and the enduring legacy of General Marshall’s selfless leadership:

“The Marshall Plan allowed us to import the food, grain, oil, coal and other items that we needed to recover from the war,” said Opland. “It also provided us with opportunities to trade more with other countries, opening the country up so that we could export our goods more easily.”

“At the Norwegian embassy, we actually have a big portrait of George Marshall. It has provided us many opportunities to commemorate his work and talk about his legacy when we have visitors to the embassy,” he continued. “So, Marshall, he keeps his eyes on us as if to remind us when it’s time to go back to work and get things moving, just like he did."

Thank you to all sponsors, attendees and participants for making this such a special event. We encourage all to come check out these beautifully decorated trees during the month of December!