State House ‘Freedom and Unity Vigil’ planned for Ukraine on Tuesday

March 12, 2022  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

The State House steps will be the site of Tuesday’s Freedom and Unity Vigil for Ukraine. File photo by Lisa Scagliotti

A decorative grapevine wreath on a porch in Duxbury has blue and yellow ribbons in honor of Ukraine, and a peace sign. Photo by Jill Smith

The public is invited Tuesday evening to the State House steps in Montpelier for a “Freedom and Unity Vigil” with Gov. Phil Scott, Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, Congressman Peter Welch, and other elected leaders to show Vermont’s support for the people of Ukraine. 

State lawmakers including House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint will be on hand for the event that starts at 6:30 p.m., according to an announcement from the governor’s office. 

Following remarks, Scott will sign into law H.717, An act relating to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. Both houses passed the bill which was delivered to the governor on Friday. 

The bill specifies that $644,826 to be appropriated from the state’s General Fund to provide one or more grants used for humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. This sum was calculated from $643,077 -- an amount equal to one dollar for each Vermont resident as calculated in the 2020 Census -- with an additional $1,749.00, equivalent to the amount of money collected by the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery from sales of Russian-sourced products from February 24 through March 2, 2022.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend on Tuesday in Montpelier, bringing candles or lights.