- Dr. Terry Bergeson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction (left), Micah Joe (Ornament Drawing Winner), and his parents, Chief Petty Officer Alvin Joe and mom Jennifer Joe, “First Mike Gregoire”, in WA DC in front of the Capitol Christmas Tree.
The Stanislaus National Forest is collecting all ornaments prior to their shipment to Washington D.C. Unless our goal is reached sooner, the deadline for receiving ornaments is September 30, 2011. Check the thermometers on the website for the status on the ornaments. Or send an email to the Capitol Christmas Tree Ornament Coordinator, Phyllis Ashmead:
[email protected]
Ship ornaments to:
Mi-Wok Ranger District
Stanislaus National Forest
Attention: Capitol Christmas Tree Ornaments
P.O. Box 100
24695 Highway 108
Mi-Wuk Village, California 95346
Early in December each year, the Speaker of the House hosts a lighting ceremony on the lawn of the United States Capitol Building and with a simple flip of a switch, powers the 10,000 LED lights that illuminate the tree. Hundreds of people who are fortunate enough to be in D.C. attend the lighting ceremony and many thousands more will find their way to the Capitol to take in the sight.
Since 1970, it has become an honor for one of the National Forests to be asked to provide the Capitol Tree. The appointed National Forest, in turn, engages help from diverse partners throughout its respective State. The opportunity to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree becomes a state-wide celebration and civic event, leaving a lasting impression on all who are fortunate enough to be involved.
2011 will be the fourth year California has contributed the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, the last time was in 1995. Known as “The People’s Tree”, the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree will be harvested from the Stanislaus National Forest located in the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.
The Forest Service recommends 8 to 10 trees to the superintendent of the capitol grounds, who makes the final selection of which tree will be the official U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Several aspects are taken into account during the selection, including the shape and fullness of the tree, the tree color and foliage condition, and species characteristics of needle retention and branch pliability. Of course, access to the tree for ease of cutting, loading, and transporting are also considered.
It is estimated that the tree selected will be approximately 60 feet tall. Imagine a 6-story tall building—that is about how tall the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be.
An additional 100 companion trees will be delivered to the Washington D.C. area and placed in federal offices, congressional and senate offices, the National American Indian Museum, and the United States Supreme Court.
The Road Trip - California’s tree will travel throughout the state visiting many cities and towns before it journeys to Washington, D.C. The California state tour is estimated to take about 8 days.
The U. S. Capitol Christmas Tree 2011 will also make frequent stops in communities across the nation on its way to Washington, D. C. The national tour will take an additional 12 days. The tree will be escorted by federal officials and have 24 hour a day Law Enforcement protection. A second full-sized semi-truck will be needed to transport all the ornaments and smaller trees to Washington, D. C.
The caravan will travel more than 4,500 miles during its three week tour. The tree will be transported on a double flatbed truck. Placed on its side, it will rest in a custom made cradle that supports the branches, preventing damage and maintaining the tree’s perfect shape. The base of the tree will be fitted with a rubber bladder filled with fresh water nightly. The tree will absorb approximately 60 gallons of water each day throughout its journey to Washington, D.C.
Some neat facts!
The Citizens of California will make the 5,000 ornaments used to decorate the tree. The ornaments will be 9 to 12 inches tall and must be made to withstand 3 weeks of harsh winter weather.
- 10,000 LED Christmas lights are strung throughout the tree.
- It takes more than a week for the U. S. Capitol Architect and his team to decorate.
- The Capitol Christmas Tree is topped by the same single star ornament used each year.
- The tree will be placed into a hole nearly five feet deep and cemented into place.
- Although U. S. Capitol Christmas Trees are varied heights, when installed they can be no taller that 60 feet.
- The Capitol landscape crew does not have a basket crane taller than that!
- An additional 2,000 ornaments will be made for the 100 companion trees displayed throughout Washington, D. C. offices and buildings.
Ceremoney - Called “The People’s Tree”, the U. S. Capitol Christmas Tree from California will actually be presented to Congress as a gift from the Golden State.
The 2011 U. S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be illuminated by a child from the state of California along with the Speaker of the House, John Boehner. The California Congressional Delegation, Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and California Governor Jerry Brown will also likely be in attendance.
Once the tree is lit, it is open for public viewing throughout the holidays until January 1, 2012. The lights come on at dusk and are turned off nightly at 11:00 p.m.
