Alaska senator highlights truck drivers hauling Capitol Christmas Tree to D.C.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan welcomed Americans to enjoy the massive Sitka spruce that is currently making its way to the nation’s capitol by truck and praised the two drivers hauling the 85-foot tall tree.

In his weekly “Alaskan of the Week” address on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Thursday, Sullivan spent about 15 minutes explaining how the Capitol Christmas Tree — taken from the Tongass National Forest near the Southeast Alaska community of Wrangell — was selected and how it’s being transported nearly 5,000 miles to be put on display in Washington D.C.

The duo of Fred Austin of North Pole and John Shank of Fairbanks have been part of that journey. Austin is 89 years old and has driven commercially for 71 years, while Shank is about to hit 50 years driving for Lynden Transport.

Together, the duo have logged over 10 million miles of driving trucks in their career.

Sullivan said the two will have driven through 12 states and 17 towns across the country before making it to D.C. on Friday.

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