Did you know that the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is selected from a different national forest for the holiday season?
Given the nickname “The People’s Tree,” since 1970 the U.S. Forest Service and the Architect’s office have selected a Christmas Tree from various national forests in the U.S. This year’s tree hails from Nevada’s Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest—the first time the state has provided the U.S. Capitol Tree.
The 53-foot red fir, with its “perfect form, striking blue-green foliage, and strong, sturdy branches,” is decorated with 10,000 handmade ornaments—some that were handmade by Nevada-based Southwest Airlines Employees and their families. Southwest Cargo provided complimentary shipping for 90 boxes of these hand-crafted decorations from Reno to Washington, D.C.
As part of the festivities surrounding the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, all fourth-grade students in Nevada were invited to write an essay on the topic of what they would like the country to know about Nevada’s national forest and public lands. The author of the winning essay would be invited to light the tree on Capitol Hill on December 2.
Southwest had the privilege of flying the winning author and his family to the tree lighting event. The airline rolled out its specialty aircraft, Nevada One, to fly Grady Armstrong and his family to Washington, D.C., on Grady’s first-ever flight. In typical Southwest style, Grady was celebrated by Employees who decorated the gate area and showed him around the cockpit.
If you would like to watch a video of the tree lighting and hear Grady’s essay, here is a PBS NewsHour video of the event. Congratulations, Grady!
