U.S. Capital Christmas Tree to Visit La Junta this November

DENVER, Colo. (August 16, 2012) – This holiday season, the U.S. Forest Service and the White River National Forest with help from their nonprofit partner, Choose Outdoors and major sponsors including Colorado Tourism Office, Mack Trucks and The National Association of Convenience Stores, will present a gift to the nation from the people of Colorado.  The 2012 Capitol Christmas Tree continues a hallowed American tradition that originated nearly 50 years ago.  

This year’s Capitol Christmas Tree will hail from the Colorado’s White River National Forest, the number one forest for recreation in the U.S. Today, the Forest Service and Choose Outdoors, a coalition promoting outdoor recreation announced the tree’s route that includes a stop in La Junta, Colo. during its journey across the country from Colorado to the nation’s capital.

In early November, the 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be harvested on the Blanco Ranger District of the White River National Forest near Meeker, Colo. The tree will then be wrapped and transported on a custom-decorated Mack Pinnacle model truck driven by former U.S. Senator, Ben Nighthorse Campbell. The truck will transport the tree more than 3,000 miles over the course of 23 days. 

The tree and the truck will stop in about 30 cities and towns, journeying through Colorado and across the country. Planned stops include a celebration and opportunity to view the tree in La Junta, Colo. Details, date and location of the La Junta, Colo. 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree celebration will be announced in the coming months. 

Upon arrival in Washington, D.C., the tree will be placed on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol and decorated with more than 5,000 ornaments handmade by Colorado children depicting the tree’s theme, “Celebrating the Great Outdoors.” Children who submit ornaments are eligible to enter a drawing to win a trip to the nation’s capital to light the tree with Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner at a ceremony in early December.

After the lighting ceremony, the Capitol Christmas Tree will be available for public viewing throughout the holiday season. The Tree is lit nightly from dusk until 11 p.m.

Costs associated with the tree’s transportation and tour events are made possible by contributions of cash and in-kind services by individuals, corporations and local communities. 

For more information on the 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and to track the tree’s route, visit www.CapitolChristmasTree2012.com.  

1.  2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Route Stops:
2. •                Saturday, November 3: Meeker, Colo. hosts first stop. 
3. •                Rangely, Colo. 
4. •                Steamboat Springs, Colo.
5. •                Dillon, Colo.
6. •                Glenwood Springs, Colo. 
7. •                Grand Junction, Colo. 
8. •                Montrose, Colo.
9. •                Cortez, Colo.
10. •                Pagosa Springs, Colo.
11. •                Alamosa, Colo. 
12. •                Colorado Springs, Colo.
13. •                Denver
14. •                Greeley, Colo. 
15. •                La Junta, Colo. (to be announced for November)
16. •                Albuquerque, N.M.
17. •                Amarillo, Texas.
18. •                Dallas
19. •                Oklahoma City
20. •                Kansas City, Mo.
21. •                St. Louis, Mo.
22. •                Nashville, Tenn.
23. •                Atlanta
24. •                Asheville, N.C.
25. •                Greensboro, N.C. 
26. •                Staunton, Va.
27. •                Allentown, Pa. 
28. •                Milford, Pa.
29. •                Monday, November 26: Tree delivered to the U.S. Capitol.