Max Baucus - United States Senator from Montana

MONTANA CHRISTMAS TREE WELCOMED TO CAPITOL

U.S. Senator Max Baucus On Hand To Present The Bitterroot Forest Tree To The American People

November 24, 2008

(Washington D.C.) – Flanked by a police escort complete with motorcycles and a security detail, the Capitol Christmas tree arrived safely at the U.S. Capitol today. The tree has taken its place, standing before the Capitol Building, after traveling across the country from the Bitterroot Forest in western Montana. Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus was on hand to welcome the tree to the Capitol, and officially present Montana’s tree to the people of the United States.
 
The tree will be displayed outside the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. from the official lighting ceremony in early December throughout the holiday season. The 78 foot, 144 year-old subalpine fir arrived after a three week journey from the Sapphire Mountain Range in the Bitterroot National Forest- drinking nearly 35 gallons of water each day.
 
“This tree has been on quite a journey across Montana and across our country,” Baucus said. “I’m so proud that this symbol of peace and joy has come from Big Sky Country. When the tree is lit, it will glow with all the radiance and warmth of the people of Montana. Now that it has arrived here, the holidays have arrived in Washington.”
 
“This tree helps us share a little bit of Montana with the rest of the country,” said U.S. Senator Jon Tester. “It is a reminder to folks all over the world of the beauty of the season.”
 
The tree traveled approximately 4,200 miles. The journey included 2,000 miles in Montana alone with stops in 22 small communities, which included parades, ceremonies and holiday celebrations in the tree’s honor.  The tree also stopped for celebrations in North Dakota, Missouri, Illinois, West Virginia and Maryland before arriving in Washington D.C. The tree was accompanied along its journey by 2008 Montana Capitol Christmas Tree Coordinator Nan Christianson, a Bitterroot National Forester.
 
“I feel both humbled and honored to be able to do this for the people of Montana,” Christianson said. “The nation has given us a great deal of support along the way. We’ve felt welcome everywhere we’ve gone. This has been very positive experience for us, just has it has been for the folks who’ve had a chance to see the tree.”
 
The tree will be decorated with 5,000 ornaments handmade by Montanans and 10,000 energy-saving LED lights. The theme for the tree this year is “Sharing Montana’s Treasures,” which is embodied in the unique ornaments Montanans of all backgrounds have supplied.
 
The official Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony will take place on December 2, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building. U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester will be joined by U.S. House Representative Denny Rehberg, Governor Brian Schweitzer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, members of Congress and Montanans. Chris Gabrielsen, a 4th grader from Havre, won a statewide drawing and will join the Speaker in ‘flipping the switch’ to light the tree for the first time.

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