This ornament will be displayed on the New Hampshire tree in Washington, D.C. as well as the Christmas tree in the White House visitor's center during the 2009 Christmas season.  For additional information see 2009 National Pageant of Peace .

 

This special ornament honors the “Bench of Friendship”—a hand wrought 450 pound iron bench made by blacksmiths in Russia and gifted to the people of America in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our nations. While finished on December 13, 2007, the bench didn’t arrive in New Hampshire until July 14, 2009, coinciding with the arrival of Russia’s first diplomat to America 200 years ago. The bench resides at the Wolfeboro town docks summers, and nestles into Peacefield Garden at the beautiful Gilman Library in Alton the remainder of the year. The commemorative gift bench—with its symbolic New England woodsman and Russian bear working together—is not only a bench to sit on, but a hope to live with. In the words of our very own Robert Frost, “‘Men work together,’ I told him from the heart, ‘Whether they work together or apart’.” We at Hampshire Pewter are pleased to celebrate the working together that unites neighbors and communities, as well as a world.