On Wednesday, all Alaskans can shine with pride at the lighting of the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. This year, a 74-foot Lutz spruce, a natural hybrid of a Sitka and white spruce, was selected from the Kenai Peninsula in the Chugach National Forest. Standing as Alaska’s gift to the nation, the tree will grace the West Lawn of the Capitol.
For the past 51 years, the U.S. House of Representatives has celebrated the arrival of the Christmas season with an official Capitol Christmas Tree, also known as “the People’s Tree.” In 1970, the U.S. Speaker of the House asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide the official tree for the capitol each year as a way to remind us of the magnificent beauty that can be found in our nation’s forests. This is the first time the Capitol Christmas Tree has come from Alaska. It is also the first time that a part of its journey has been by sea. The Chugach is often referred to as the “jewel” of the National Forest System, not only for its wetlands, mountains, and glaciers, but also for being a place where distinctive cultures, customs and ways of life converge and connect. People have lived, worked and visited the Chugach for generations, and Alaska Natives have fished, hunted and celebrated there since time immemorial. John Ross, of the Kenai Kenaitze Tribe performed a traditional blessing as the tree was cut, and representatives of the tribe will be present at the tree lighting ceremony.
The Chugach is commonly spoken of as: More than a place to visit, it’s where we live. For those who live here, the Capitol Christmas Tree is an opportunity to share a part of this special place with the rest of the nation. More than 30 sponsors worked with the Forest Service to select and harvest the towering spruce and transport it along with over 4,000 ornaments to Washington, D.C. Inspired by the beauty of the forest, ornaments were created by Alaska’s school children, community members, Alaska Native artists and Forest Service employees, and were crafted out of sustainable, natural items such as wood and pine cones, and some recycled tsunami debris, which will help tell the story of Alaska and the Chugach. The tree is a symbol of how the Alaskan landscape sustains and connects people. It’s about people and place; about Alaskans and their communities, and diverse landscapes. Alaskans rely on the National Forests and other public lands to feed our families, for economic opportunity, creativity and joy.
As the tree traveled across the country, there were numerous special viewing events giving people in states along the route an opportunity to see the tree and learn more about Alaska and its National Forests. The tree lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C., will be led by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Anna DeVolld, a Soldotna fifth-grader and winner of Alaska’s senior Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s essay contest, will flip the switch that will illuminate thousands of lights.
As Alaskans view the tree from our home state with its lights twinkling on the lawn of the nation’s capitol, we can shine with pride in sharing a piece of our state’s pristine beauty.
To learn more about the Capitol Christmas Tree events, view videos, photos and updates, please go to: http://www.capitolchristmastree.com, or search hashtag #2015CCT on Twitter. To learn more about the Chugach National Forest, please go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/chugach.
• Beth Pendleton is a regional forester in the U.S. Forest Service in Juneau.
