CHANGING LANES
Special Hauls
2012 U.S. CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE TO COME FROM COLORADO
A special delivery will take place this month as a Mack truck will transport the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Meeker, Colo. to Washington, DC.
Placed in front of the U.S. Capitol Building, and also known as the "people's tree", this annual gift to Americans across the country began its tradition in 1964 with Speaker of the House John McCormack. The regular practice of displaying a Christmas tree on the Capitol Grounds is relatively recent. Correspondence of 1919 in the records of the Architect of the Capitol indicates that a Christmas tree was purchased that
tradition began – each year's tree would come from one of the country's national forests. U.S. Forest Service
years in advance, giving the U.S. Forest Service time to select a suitable tree to represent the people of the United States at
Christmas.
Colorado last received this honor back in 2000, and is proud to offer this gift
year. However, it was not until 1965 that
a tree-lighting ceremony established. From 1964-1967, decorations were placed on a live tree planted on the West Front lawn until damage required it be removed.
A few years later in 1970, a new 12
to our nation next year. The birthplace of the 2012 "people's tree" is the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest in central Colorado. White River National Forest staff selected a handful of trees to contend for the honor, which
of the Capitol.
Once cut, Colorado's gift to the NOVEMBER 2012 // WWW.CHANGINGLANESDIGITAL.COM
