11/10/2009 1:42:00 PM Capitol Christmas Tree to cruise Route 66 Residents have opportunity to view largest Capitol Tree ever
Photo courtesy of capitolchristmastree.org
The Capitol Christmas Tree is loaded onto a flatbed truck just after its harvest.
Ryan Williams Williams-Grand Canyon News Reporter
WILLIAMS - For the first time in history, Arizona will provide the Nation's Capitol Christmas tree. Before it reaches Washington, D.C., the tree will travel right through downtown Williams.
The United States Congress invited Arizona to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree, which will be on display in front of the U.S. Capitol Building during this year's holiday season. The Capitol Christmas tree will pass through Williams at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and be in town for one hour accompanied by Secret Service agents.
Sue Atkinson, events coordinator for the Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce, encourages residents to dress in their favorite winter outfit and gather at the corner of Route 66 and Second.
"We're totally excited for this once in a lifetime opportunity for the tree to come through Williams," she said. "The flatbed truck that it's going to be on is 108 feet long. We're going to be giving away candy canes and hot chocolate and we'll sing some Christmas carols. The Cataract Creek Gang is going to do a skit. Santa is going to come in and save the day."
The 85-foot Blue Spruce was harvested on Nov. 7 in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest located in northeastern Arizona.
The harvest ceremony included White Mountain Apache Dancers, an Apache blessing and choral music. Arizona's official historian Marshall Trimble was also in attendance to commemorate the historic event.
The "Peoples Tree," as it is often referred to, will make its way through the United States eventually arriving at the Capitol where it will be presented to the United States Congress on Nov. 30. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi along with an Arizona schoolchild who has made an ornament for the tree will light the tree during the ceremony.
More than 5,000 handcrafted ornaments will decorate the tree. The ornaments are approximately 9-12 inches in order to be seen on the imposing tree from a distance. Schoolchildren from all over Arizona, including Williams, submitted ornaments for the tree.
Students in the 21st Century Out-of-School Program at the Williams Elementary-Middle School participated in making ornaments for the Capitol Tree, hoping that Williams would be represented in our nation's capitol. Michelle Bliss, site coordinator for the 21st Century Program, and Tracy Wygal, 21st Century Program Aide, reviewed the strict parameters in place for the creation of the ornaments.
The students painted enameled camp plates and created an Arizona collage scene and then sealed the plates to make them waterproof in preparation for the harsh Washington, D.C. winter weather. The ornaments were mailed on Oct. 5. Each student that submitted an ornament will be entered for a chance to go to the Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
"The ornaments were very representative of Arizona culture, beauty and life," said Wygal.
The tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree began in 1964. The first trees used came from Buddies Nurseries in Birdsboro, Pa and were 24-foot tall live trees. Over the years, trees used to adorn the Capitol have grown in size. Until this year, the tallest tree used at the Capitol measured 75 feet and was harvested in 1996 in Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah. Along with the main tree in front of the Capitol Building, 75 smaller trees will be places throughout Washington, D.C. in various federal offices and public buildings.
For more information about the Capitol Christmas Tree visit www.capitolchristmastree.org.
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Article comment by:
Michael McNally
Merry Christmas to the people of Williams Arizona, God Bless the United States of America and the United Kingdom, may all your Christmas holidays be happy Loving and safe, in God we trust. best wishes from across the pond.
