Colorado Congressional Delegation Welcomes Start of U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree's Tour to Washington, D.C.
Tree's Journey Starts Nov. 6 in Meeker, Colo.; Funds Raised During Tour to go to Restoration Efforts for High Park & Waldo Canyon Fires
Sen. Mark Udall, Sen. Michael Bennet, and Reps. Diana DeGette, Jared Polis, Scott Tipton, Cory Gardner, Doug Lamborn, Mike Coffman and Ed Perlmutter today welcomed the kick-off to the 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree's journey from Colorado to Washington, D.C. The "People's Tree," a 73-foot-tall Engleman Spruce, will be cut from the White River National Forest's Blanco Ranger District near Meeker, Colo., on Nov. 2, 2012, and will make its way to the nation's capital via stops in Colorado and around the country.
"I’m thrilled that Colorado's White River National Forest was selected to gift a tree from Colorado to the nation. Our state's open spaces, outdoor recreation and tourism industry are key parts of what makes Colorado such a special place to live and work. This tree will be a symbol of what makes Colorado a great state," Udall said. "It also is a visible reminder of the challenges facing our forests - from a widespread beetle epidemic to the most severe wildfire season in recent memory - and the work we have ahead of us to ensure their health."
This is a unique opportunity for Rio Blanco County to highlight Colorado's great outdoors and natural resources, while also underscoring the importance of keeping our state's forests healthy and instituting good forest-management practices to mitigate wildfire danger. The past summer was one of our state's toughest droughts and most severe fire seasons. One of the partners for the project, Choose Outdoors, will raise funds during the tour for restoration efforts for the High Park and Waldo Canyon fires.
The nationwide celebration starts in Meeker on Nov. 6. The tree will be delivered to the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 26 and decorated with 5,000 homemade ornaments from Coloradans before its lighting in December.
| Colorado Tour | National Tour |
| Nov. 6: Meeker - Rangely - Steamboat Springs Nov. 7: Dillon - Glenwood Springs Nov. 8: Grand Junction - Montrose Nov. 9: Cortez - Durango Nov. 10: Pagosa Springs - Alamosa Nov. 11: Colorado Springs - Denver Nov. 12: Greeley - La Junta |
Nov. 13: Albuquerque, NM Nov. 14: Amarillo, Texas Nov. 15: Dallas, Texas Nov. 16: Oklahoma City, Okla. Nov. 17: Kansas City, Mo. Nov. 18: St. Louis, Mo. Nov. 19: Nashville, Tenn. Nov. 20: Atlanta, Ga. Nov. 21: Asheville, NC Nov. 22: Charlotte, NC Nov. 23: Staunton, Va. Nov. 24: Allentown and Milford, Pa. Nov. 25: Joint Base Andrews, Md. Nov. 26: U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. |
For more information on the 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and related events – including a song and art contest and plans for its Washington, D.C. arrival – visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.