Cities To Celebrate Arrival Of Capitol Christmas Tree

By Linda Kor
   This year Arizonans have been given the honor of showcasing our beautiful state by providing the Christmas tree for our nation’s capitol. The tree, cut from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests head-quartered in Springerville, is the first tree from Arizona to be a part of this tradition, which began 49 years ago.
   The Capitol Christmas Tree is erected annually on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., and decorated to celebrate the Christmas holiday season. The tradition began in 1964, when Speaker of the House John W. McCormack made the request to have a live tree at the Capitol. This first tree was a live Douglas fir that was purchased from a nursery and redecorated for the next three Christmas seasons. When that tree died, white pines were cut down in Maryland and put on display for the 1968 and 1969 seasons. Beginning in 1970, trees have been provided by the U.S. Forest Service from dif-ferent locations across the nation.
   This year’s tree will be cut on Nov. 7 and begin its tour around the state two days later, reaching Win-slow and Holbrook on Wednesday, Nov. 18, before heading to the nation’s capital.
   The Capitol Christmas Tree is scheduled to arrive in Winslow at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 18 and will be lo-cated at the Standin’ On The Corner Park on Second Street. Students from the local schools will be in at-tendance and there will be musical performances by the Winslow High School choir beginning at 10 a.m.
   The arrival of the tree in Holbrook will be celebrated with a reception at the historic Navajo County courthouse beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at approximately 7:30 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend the evening’s events, which will include hot refreshments, performances by elementary school students and the lighting of Holbrook’s own Christmas tree on the lawn of the courthouse, as well as the lighting of the courthouse building itself.
   Holbrook residents, businesses and organizations are encouraged to contribute an ornament to the local tree that will be used year after year as a reminder of Holbrook’s families, friends and businesses. The or-naments contributed may be bought or made, and can include the names of family or friends. Organizers ask that no breakable materials be used and that the ornament be weather tolerant. All ornaments must be received no later than Friday, Nov. 13, at the chamber office at the old courthouse.
   In order to really make the courthouse shine, the chamber is also looking for lighting contributions that can be used year after year.