This week's headlines
For the first time in many years, the Capitol Christmas Tree is from Colorado. The 73-foot Engelmann Spruce came from the White River National Forest about 40 miles east of Meeker.
Colorado school kids, including those at Hotchkiss K-8, North Fork Community Montessori and kids involved in the After School Art Program at the Creamery Arts Center in Hotchkiss, created 5,000 ornaments to decorate the tree and another 1,000 ornaments for 70 companion trees which will decorate U.S. government offices. The companion trees are subalpine fir and Douglas fir trees provided by the Colorado State Forest Service and a Larimer County tree farm.
The Capitol Christmas Tree, the companion trees and the ornaments aren't the only Colorado connections for the project. Former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell will be driving the Mack truck carrying the tree on a 23-day tour of 27 communities across Colorado and the country before it arrives in Washington, D.C.
This is Campbell's second time to transport the Capitol Christmas Tree from Colorado to the nation's capital. He also handled the driving duties in 2000.
The Mack truck has emissions which are so clean, in some parts of the country the air coming out of the truck is cleaner than the air going in.
On Thursday, Nov. 8, the public can see the Capitol Christmas Tree in Cabela's parking lot at Mesa Mall in Grand Junction. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. people can sign a banner that wraps around the Mack truck with holiday wishes for the nation.
The Capitol Christmas Tree is expected to be traveling through Delta between 2-3 p.m. this Thursday.
It will then be on display in Montrose on Main Street from 4-6 p.m. Holiday music and fun activities like ornament and cookie decorating and a visit with Santa and Smokey are planned.
"The People's Tree" will arrive in D.C. on Nov. 25. In early December, the tree will be placed in front of the U.S. Capitol with the handmade Christmas ornaments from Colorado school kids decorating it.
Follow all the action at the official website, www.capitolchristmastree2012.com.
blog comments powered by Disqus