U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will come from West Virginia – WV MetroNews

ELKINS, W.Va. — This years U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will hail from the Greenbrier Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest.

Jim Kaufmann, Director of the Capitol Grounds for the Architect of the Capitol, selected the tree, a 63-foot tall Norway Spruce.

The Greenbrier Ranger District holds one of eight candidate trees that Kaufmann personally visited. He said the holiday season at the U.S. Capitol requires a special tree.

“Selecting a tree to adorn the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol comes with very specific requirements,” said Kaufmann. “Thanks to the pre-planning of Monongahela National Forest staff, we were able to select a very traditional and graceful Norway spruce to represent Monongahela National Forest and wild and wonderful West Virginia at the U.S. Capitol during the holidays this winter.”

The Greenbrier Ranger District produced the “People’s Tree” to the U.S. Capitol back in 1970. It was also a Norway spruce. A red spruce was also provided from the Gauley Ranger District in 1976.

Norway spruce are an introduced species in West Virginia and are often raised and sold on Christmas tree farms.

The Monongahela National Forest said the tree will be harvested in early November then will make its way to Washington, D.C. later in the month.

“It’s a great honor for our district to once again provide the People’s Tree,” said Jack Tribble, district ranger for the Greenbrier Ranger District. “Our staff is excited to be a part of the project, including the harvest and packaging of the tree, to ensure it has a safe trip to Washington, D.C., this fall.”

The tree will be decorated with thousands of handcrafted ornaments from people of the mountain state. The longstanding tradition is that the tree will be lit sometime after Thanksgiving during a ceremony with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Non-profit project partner Choose Outdoors and the presenting sponsor 84 Lumber are contributing to the funding of the project and its theme, “Endlessly Wild and Wonderful.”

“We are grateful for our shared partnerships and engaged community partners and look forward to representing them on a national stage in D.C. with this locally grown Norway spruce, which will make the perfect U.S. Capitol Christmas tree,” said Shawn Cochran, forest supervisor for Monongahela National Forest.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 53-year tradition. One of 154 national forests in the U.S. provides the tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol every holiday season.