Instead of spending Thanksgiving at home in New Alexandria, Jeff Tenerovich is on the road in a Mack truck. Dinner today is in Danbury, Conn.

Tenerovich said he couldn’t pass up a unique opportunity to accompany the 2007 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree from Vermont to Washington, especially since he gets to stop and visit veterans in hospitals and nursing homes along the way.

“It’s sad when you see some of these veterans, and they don’t have anybody, and this might be their last Thanksgiving,” said Tenerovich, 58. “It’s a small price to pay as far as missing one Thanksgiving at home.”

Tenerovich is driving one of 15 trucks in the caravan. While 14 of them, including the one transporting the 60-foot balsam fir, are antiques, Tenerovich is driving a 2008 Mack Truck.

What makes it different is that it’s painted with a mural of American military personnel from conflicts throughout the nation’s history.

Tenerovich got the opportunity through his membership in the Antique Truck Club of America and his job at Gribble Transport in Rockwood, Somerset County.

Gribble is under contract with Mack Truck Corp. to move the company’s trucks around for trade shows, dealer openings and other events.

The military tribute truck Tenerovich is driving, dubbed “Rolling Thunder,” is owned by Mack Truck.

Members of a Vermont chapter of the Antique Truck Club, who are driving the Capitol tree and 80 other trees in the caravan, knew of Tenerovich’s connection to Mack and asked if he could get access to the military tribute truck.

The truck fits with the caravan’s theme of honoring the nation’s veterans.

Tenerovich’s truck is escorting the Antique trucks, which range in model year from 1950 to 1968.

The tree was cut Friday from the Green Mountain National Forest near Bennington, Vt. After a town celebration Monday in Bennington, the caravan hit the road. They’ll traverse through Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland before arriving Monday in Washington.

Tenerovich is getting to visit veterans homes and hospitals along the route, dropping off cards, gifts and Christmas trees.

“It’s just really awe-inspiring for me. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip you’ll make,” Tenerovich said. “It’s real awesome to be a part of this and interact with the people. These are truly, truly good people.”

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