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Monongahela National Forest Announces 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour Schedule

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Each year, a different national forest provides a tree to light the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. Monongahela National Forest, in partnership with nonprofit partner Choose Outdoors and presenting sponsor 84 Lumber, will bring this special gift from West Virginia to Washington, D.C., with a series of events in communities along the way.

Between Nov. 4-17, local communities will welcome the 63-foot Norway spruce at parks, plazas, schools, memorials, main streets, and more. Well-wishers can see the wrapped-up tree on its extra-long trailer, sign the banners attached to each side, learn about Monongahela National Forest, purchase U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree merchandise, and enjoy the holiday spirit in their communities.

“We are grateful to the communities of West Virginia for hosting these special events,” said Shawn Cochran, forest supervisor for Monongahela National Forest, “and the many sponsors that make this tour possible. Our staff looks forward to sharing the holiday excitement and fun with people of all ages on the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree tour.”

The tour will kick off Saturday, November 4, with a special celebration in Elkins, home to the headquarters of Monongahela National Forest. Hosted in partnership with the Elkins-Randolph Chamber of Commerce and Elkins Mainstreet, the city will become “Elfkins,” with annual holiday lights and festivities planned at the Elkins Depot Welcome Center, including an appearance by Mark Bowe, host of Magnolia Network’s Barnwood Builders, at the AHF Products® booth.

The schedule of tour events includes:

  • Saturday, Nov. 4, 6:00 p.m.– 8:00 p.m. Elkins Depot Welcome Center (315 Railroad Ave, Elkins, WV 26241)
  • Sunday, Nov. 5, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Summersville Arena and Conference Center (3 Armory Way, Summersville, WV 26651)
  • Monday, Nov. 6, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Mitchell Chevrolet (400 8th St, Marlinton, WV 24954)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 7, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tamarack Marketplace (One Tamarack Place, Beckley, WV 25801); 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. WV State Capitol Complex (1716 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25305)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 8, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Former ACF Industries Parking Lot (3rd Avenue between 22nd and 24th streets, Huntington, WV 25703)
  • Thursday, Nov. 9, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. White Palace at Wheeling Park (1801 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003)
  • Friday, Nov. 10, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 84 Lumber (3208 Earl L. Core Road, Morgantown, WV 26508)
  • Saturday, Nov. 11, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Operation Welcome Home at Mylan Park (452 Mylan Park Lane, Morgantown, WV 26501); 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. West Virginia University at Downtown Morgantown (243 High St, Morgantown, WV 26505)
  • Sunday, Nov. 12, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Swilled Dog/Raymond’s Gymnastic Center (28 Industrial Park Road, Upper Tract, WV 26866)
  • Monday, Nov. 13, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. DavisYard (533 William Avenue, Davis, WV 26260)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. WV Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (301 E Main St, Romney, WV 26757)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 15, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Harpers Ferry Job Corps Center (146 Buffalo Dr, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425)
  • Thursday, Nov. 16, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Joint Base Andrews (Base only)
  • Friday, Nov. 17, Delivery to West Lawn, U.S. Capitol Building

Festivities are free and open to the public for all to enjoy. Tour dates and locations are subject to change at any time. Monitor www.uscapitolchristmastree.com/calendar for updates. Beginning November 4, the tree’s journey can be tracked online at capitoltreetracker.com, hosted by Spireon, a Solera solution.

In addition to presenting sponsor 84 Lumber, partners supporting the 2023 journey include Kenworth Truck Company, Werner Enterprises, Hale Truck and Trailer, Spireon, a Solera solution, WCHS ABC 8/FOX 11, Verizon Frontline, Society of American Foresters, All Crane & Equipment Rental, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Truckload Carriers Association, AHF Products, Bruce®, Armstrong Flooring™ and Robbins® flooring brands, Great West Casualty Company, Warwood Tool, LexisNexis VitalChek Network, Inc. and others.

The top priority is the safety of tour staff, event attendees, and the tree; local public health guidelines will be followed. We ask the public to be aware of the large truck’s substantial blind spots, wide turns, and longer stopping distances on our roads as they welcome the tree to their communities.

Follow the journey of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and be a part of the festivities at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com, @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram, or the Monongahela National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf and https://www.facebook.com/MonongahelaNF.

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Harpers Ferry Job Corps Students Build Tree Display for U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Exhibit

Harpers Ferry Job Corps Students Build Tree Display for U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Exhibit

Harpers Ferry Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center carpentry students recently built two wooden tree displays that will be part of Monongahela National Forest’s interpretive exhibit accompanying the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree as it travels around West Virginia and surrounding states in November.

The project was led by student Antwan Davis-Mccleary Jr. and took about two weeks including both design and construction. Ron Hartle, lead carpentry instructor, designed the trees, and the students built them. A base was also built to support each tree, and both displays were sealed with a protective coating.

“The project build phase showed the students how important academic skills are while constructing projects, including reading, math, and following instructions on how to operate hand/power tools,” said Instructor Hartle, “The students are very proud of the project, as well as the knowledge they acquired and skills gained.”

When the 63-foot Norway spruce makes its way from West Virginia to Washington, D.C., communities will have opportunities to view the tree, learn more about the multiple-use mission of the USDA Forest Service, and share messages about what national forests mean to them on paper leaves that will hang from the branches of these displays.

Following the tree tour, the interactive exhibit will be used during conservation education programs in local schools. “The wooden trees will be used in various ways, including teaching about the importance of trees and their role in the environment and discussing the importance of forest management,” according to Amy Lovell, education specialist for Monongahela National Forest.

When the displays were delivered to the Forest, the students expressed how honored they were to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime project and are excited to see the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree when it goes on tour later in the fall.

“Monongahela National Forest is grateful for the partnership we have with the Harpers Ferry Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center, in both the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree project and beyond,” said 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Project Manager Amy Albright. “The students did a remarkable job of bringing the tree displays to life and should be very proud of their carpentry skills. Both the students and leadership at the Harpers Ferry Job Corps Center have embraced the opportunity to participate and support the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, and we look forward to working with them more in the future.”

The Job Corps students who constructed the trees are also learning other skills, such as computer science, emergency dispatch, and wildland firefighting. Two students will soon travel to the Gila National Forest in New Mexico to get construction experience as the forest rehabs some fire housing.

Job Corps provides free career training and education for 16- through 24-year-olds. There are over 120 campuses across the country where students gain the experience needed to begin a career or apprenticeship, advance to higher education, or join the military.

Harpers Ferry Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center in West Virginia is one of 24 centers known as Civilian Conservation Centers. The Forest Service operates these centers and encourage students to learn in nature and work to sustain and improve the land they live on. Learn more about the Harpers Ferry Job Corps Center at https://harpersferry.jobcorps.gov/.

Please join us in celebrating West Virginia’s contributions to the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Initiative by following along at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com.

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Werner Enterprises to Haul 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

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Werner Enterprises will deliver a 63’ tall gift to the nation this holiday as they transport the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia to Washington, D.C.

Werner was selected as the hauler for this year’s tree at the recommendation of Kenworth Truck Company and based on industry reputation, according to Bruce Ward, president of Choose Outdoors, the non-profit partner assisting the USDA Forest Service in coordinating the annual initiative. The tree will be harvested from the Monongahela National Forest in early November, followed by a journey with special events in communities throughout the state before being delivered to Washington, D.C. Werner Enterprises also will deliver thousands of handmade ornaments made by West Virginians along with smaller trees for military families stationed at Joint Base Andrews donated by presenting sponsor, 84 Lumber.

Werner is an asset-based logistics provider and the sixth-largest truckload carrier in the United States. Beginning with a single truck purchased by founder Clarence L. (CL) Werner in 1956, the company today delivers world-class supply chain solutions to the global marketplace responsibly and safely – operating nearly 8,300 tractors and 30,000 trailers, with the help of more than 14,000 associates across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Approximately 20 percent of Werner’s workforce are military veterans. Werner has offices and terminal locations throughout North America, with headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Since 2022, the company received more than 30 awards recognizing its efforts in making a difference through sustainability, safety, and serving local communities.

“Werner’s selection as the 2023 Capitol Christmas Tree project carrier is truly an honor and testament to our hard work in keeping America moving, no matter the task,” said Werner’s Chairman, President and CEO, Derek Leathers. “The professional drivers entrusted with this prestigious project are highly skilled and embody our core values of safety, service and leadership. They will do an exceptional job carrying out this unique project and tribute to our country.”

Professional drivers Jesus Davila and Tim Dean will do the honors of safely delivering the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to Washington, D.C., on behalf of Werner, while husband and wife team Steve and Gina Jones will transport the handmade ornaments and 84 companion trees. Between them, the drivers bring impeccable safety records and extensive community service and have received recognition through various prestigious driver awards. Learn more about these incredible drivers here.

Kenworth Truck Company returns for the tenth year as a major sponsor of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree program. A specially decaled Kenworth 100th anniversary T680 Signature Edition will deliver the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The T680 is equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the PACCAR Powertrain featuring the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 455 horsepower, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles.

In addition to presenting sponsor 84 Lumber and Kenworth Truck Company, partners supporting the 2023 journey include Hale Truck and Trailer, Spireon, WCHS ABC 8/FOX 11, Verizon Frontline, Society of American Foresters, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Truckload Carriers Association, AHF Products, Bruce, Hartco and Robbins, Great West Casualty Company, Warwood Tool, LexisNexis VitalChek Network, Inc. and more.

For more information on the initiative, how to get involved, and to follow the tree’s journey, visit www.uscapitolchristmastree.com.

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Meet the 2023 Drivers

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Werner Enterprises was selected as the hauler for the 2023 U.s. Capitol Christmas Tree. Meet the team who will help safely deliver the tree, along with ornaments and smaller Christmas trees. 

Jesus Davila

Jesus Davila joined Werner in 2018 and has more than 550,000 accident-free miles. As a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of 12 years, he was deployed more than six times including during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom. He received multiple awards in the military including and an Infantry Purple Heart with two personal decorations with valor and two combat action ribbons. He is part of Werner’s Operation Freedom Fleet for military veterans and connects with students in truck driving schools across the country. Jesus serves as an ATA America’s Road Team Captain, Werner Road Team Captain and Driver Leader. He also is part of the Dollar Elite Team and Leader Advisory Council at Werner, where he makes a positive impact on his fellow professional drivers. Jesus was also nominated by Werner for the Texas Driver of the Year Award and the TA Citizen Driver Award. When he is not on the road, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Michelle, and their children.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to partake in such a prestigious event that not many professional drivers have the chance to do. The trucking industry plays a vital part in Keeping America Moving and without the drivers, goods would not reach the consumers that need them. This event shows that professional drivers are needed in many capacities of the industry, both large and small.”

Tim Dean

Tim Dean joined Werner in 1988 and become the second professional driver in Werner’s history to achieve five million accident-free miles. In 2009-2010 he served as an ATA America’s Road Team Captain and has been a Werner Road Team Captain and mentor since 2005. Tim has competed in the Nebraska Truck Driving Championships for 22 years, placing first in his class nine times and was Grand Champion two times in 2012 and 2018. He was awarded the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance IDEA (International Driver Excellence Award) in 2019. In addition, Tim was the Nebraska Trucking Association Driver of the year in 2019. When he is not on the road, he enjoys spending time with his family in Griswold, Iowa.

“It’s both an honor and a privilege to participate in the Capitol Christmas Tree project. During my 35-year career with Werner as a professional driver, the selection for this project is at the top of the list among the incredible opportunities I’ve experienced. With approximately 20 percent of our workforce at Werner being military veterans, I’m also proud to support those who served our country during this special opportunity.”

Gina Jones

Gina Jones joined Werner in 2012 and has achieved more than one million accident-free miles. She serves as both an ATA America’s Road Team Captain and a Werner Road Team Captain. As a strong advocate for women in the trucking industry, Gina actively participates in Women in Motion, an initiative of the American Trucking Associations. Gina has also been named Team Driver of the Month at Werner and has received nominations for the company’s Acceleration Award along with the Women in Trucking Association’s Female Driver of the Year Award. In 2023, she was a finalist for the TA Citizen Driver Award. She and her husband, Steve, are team drivers and members of Werner’s Operation Freedom Fleet and connects with students in truck driving schools across the country. When she is not on the road, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and riding her Harley.

“What an amazing opportunity for Werner Enterprises, the first large carrier, to be selected to be a part of this event.  I’m extremely grateful for Werner for allowing me to participate in this once in a lifetime experience!”

Steve Jones

Steve Jones joined Werner in 2011 and has achieved more than one million accident-free miles. As a U.S. Army Veteran of seven years, he and his wife, Gina, are part of Werner’s Operation Freedom Fleet for military veterans and connects with students in truck driving schools across the country. Steve serves as a Werner Road Team Captain, Driver Leader and participates in various other committees throughout the company that positively impact professional drivers. He has also been named Team Driver of the Month at Werner and was nominated for the company’s Acceleration Award. When he is not on the road, he enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and riding his Harley.

 “Considering there are only a handful of professional drivers and carriers in the country that have had this amazing opportunity, Werner’s selection as a whole along with my personal selection to carry out this project is extremely humbling. It will truly be an experience I never forget.”

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2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Selected from Greenbrier Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest

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ELKINS, W.Va., July 24, 2023 — The staff of Monongahela National Forest is excited to announce that a 63-foot Norway spruce from the Greenbrier Ranger District has been selected to serve as the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree this holiday season.

The tree was selected by Jim Kaufmann, Director of the Capitol Grounds for the Architect of the Capitol, and is one of eight candidate trees that he personally visited on the Forest recently.

“Selecting a tree to adorn the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol comes with very specific requirements,” said Jim Kaufmann, Director of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum at the Architect of the Capitol. “Thanks to the pre-planning of Monongahela National Forest staff, we were able to select a very traditional and graceful Norway spruce to represent Monongahela National Forest and wild and wonderful West Virginia at the U.S. Capitol during the holidays this winter.”

The People’s Tree will be harvested from the Greenbrier Ranger District, which was home to the very first Christmas tree provided from the Forest Service to the U.S. Capitol in 1970, also a Norway spruce. A red spruce was provided from the Gauley Ranger District in 1976.

“It’s a great honor for our district to once again provide the People’s Tree,” said Jack Tribble, district ranger for the Greenbrier Ranger District. “Our staff is excited to be a part of the project, including the harvest and packaging of the tree, to ensure it has a safe trip to Washington, D.C., this fall.”

The tree will be harvested in early November before making its journey through communities in West Virginia before heading to Washington, D.C., arriving at the U.S. Capitol in late November. The precise location of the tree is confidential until the harvest in early November.

The Architect of the Capitol’s team will decorate the tree with thousands of handcrafted ornaments from the people of West Virginia. The tree will be lit sometime after Thanksgiving during a ceremony with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, part of a long-held tradition.

Non-profit project partner Choose Outdoors, along with presenting sponsor 84 Lumber and a host of partners, sponsors, and volunteers, are contributing funding and in-kind support of this project and its theme, Endlessly Wild and Wonderful.

“We are grateful for our shared partnerships and engaged community partners and look forward to representing them on a national stage in D.C. with this locally grown Norway spruce, which will make the perfect U.S. Capitol Christmas tree,” said Shawn Cochran, forest supervisor for Monongahela National Forest.

Norway spruce are an introduced species in West Virginia and have become naturalized across the state. These trees are often raised and sold on Christmas tree farms.

The Forest Service first undertook large scale forest reforestation projects in Monongahela National Forest starting in 1925, just five years after the Forest was established. Norway spruce were often planted, along with other non-native and native species, as they were known for their rapid growth rate. More recently, the Forest Service has worked closely with partners such as The Nature Conservancy, Green Forests Work, and the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative to restore native red spruce ecosystems across the national forest.

About the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

 The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 53-year tradition in which one of America’s 154 national forests provides a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. The project is made possible with support from partners including non-profit Choose Outdoors along with cash and in-kind contributions from companies large and small as well as volunteers locally and across America. We invite you to follow the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree project:

  • Facebook: USCapitolChristmasTree and facebook.com/MonongahelaNF
  • Twitter: @USCapitolTree
  • Instagram: @USCapitolChristmasTree
  • #EndlesslyWildandWonderful

To learn more about the history of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, visit https://www.aoc.gov/what-we-do/programs-ceremonies/capitol-christmas-tree. Follow along at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com.

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Partners of the Central Appalachians Spruce Restoration Initiative Work Together for Forest Resilience in West Virginia

By Ellen White, Restoration AmeriCorps, United States Forest Service. 

The Architect of the Capitol will choose the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree from Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. We don’t know yet which tree will be chosen, but it could be one of the taller spruces that grow in the national forest, such as an introduced Norway spruce or the iconic native red spruce.

Red Spruce Knob Trail (TR 451), Monongahela National Forest, Pocahontas County, West Virginia, March 20, 2020. (USDA Forest Service photo by Kaylynne Goins)

Visitors stepping into a red spruce forest on a hot, sunny day will notice a quick drop in temperature and a swift loss of light from the overstory. A hiker’s boots would be engulfed in squishy, wet moss, and they may notice the distinct, sappy smell of red spruce needles. High-elevation red spruce forests are some of the last remaining evidence of the ice age in the Central Appalachians. Dependent on cooler climates, red spruce trees are predicted to decline as the climate warms.

Helping red spruce forests adapt to climate change is critical because, while beautiful and unique, red spruce forests also provide numerous ecosystem functions like shading stream channels for native brook trout, cooling the soils, and creating a mossy understory that holds water like a sponge, and has been an integral part of West Virginia’s culture and history.

For over 20 years, non-profits and government partners, including Monongahela National Forest of the Central Appalachians Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI), have worked together to protect and restore these wild and wonderful forests, planting more than a million trees and releasing red spruce from the understory across thousands of acres. Now, partners are collaborating on new methods for climate adaptation to ensure that red spruce ecosystems will outlast the predicted warming temperatures and decrease precipitation of the future.

Since 2021, CASRI partners have planted over 100,000 climate-adapted red spruce trees across over 300+ acres of climate refugia. These climate-adapted trees are sourced from existing populations with greater genetic diversity (learn more at The Nature Conservancy). By creating connectivity between climate-adapted red spruce stands, we strengthen the future potential of our forests to better withstand the significant changes in climate. Survival of these red spruce trees also ensures the habitat survival of species that depend on high-elevation spruce forests and for visitors to ski in the winter and cool off in the summer.

Please join us in celebrating West Virginia’s contributions to the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Initiative by following along at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com. Be sure to visit and support CASRI, as well, while we work together for climate-resilient red spruce forests for future generations to enjoy.

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84 LUMBER Announces Presenting Sponsorship of 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

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Eighty Four, PA (May 25, 2023) – 84 Lumber, the nation’s largest privately held building materials supplier, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The tree will journey from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia to stand proudly in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. this holiday season. This is the second year 84 Lumber has been the presenting sponsor of what affectionately is known as “The People’s Tree.”

“We are honored to be a part of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative, which provides the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of the season and brings our great country together during the holidays,” said 84 Lumber Owner and CEO Maggie Hardy. “The People’s Tree” is a national treasure and 84 Lumber and our associates nationwide are proud to help bring the tree to Washington, D.C. to be enjoyed by everyone.”

“The annual journey is only possible with the help of sponsors from both the public and private sectors,” said Bruce Ward, president of Choose Outdoors, the non-profit partner of the USDA Forest Service. “We’re grateful for the time and resources that 84 Lumber and all our invaluable partners are providing to help make this the best tour to date.”

Monongahela National Forest will provide the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on behalf of the USDA Forest Service, kicking off a year-long celebration with the theme of “Endlessly Wild & Wonderful” to connect people to West Virginia’s public lands.

Each year, a tree is selected from a different national forest. The Monongahela National Forest was the first national forest to provide “The People’s Tree” on behalf of the Forest Service in 1970, and again in 1976. 2023 will be the third time West Virginia will have the distinction.

84 Lumber will be hosting a special stopover for the tree at its newly expanded location in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Earl L Core Road in November. 84 Lumber has a total of 14 locations in West Virginia.

As part of 84 Lumber’s celebration of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree as a symbol of hope, peace, and unity, the company also will honor military service people at a special stopover at the end of the tree’s journey. Beautiful Christmas trees, fresh from local growers in West Virginia, will be presented by 84 Lumber as an early holiday gift to families at Joint Base Andrews, the final stop on the tree’s journey to Washington, D.C., where it will be unwrapped and transported to the U.S. Capitol.

The tree lighting ceremony will take place in late November, and the tree will light up the West Lawn from nightfall until 11 p.m. each evening until January 1, 2024.

For related news, events, and tour information, and to track the tree on the journey to D.C., visit www.uscapitolchristmastree.com. To learn more about 84 Lumber, visit www.84lumber.com.

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Opportunity to Contribute Tree Skirts to the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Initiative

Monongahela National Forest is seeking assistance from groups and individuals to provide some of the dozens of tree skirts needed for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative. In addition to providing the 70 to 80-foot tree displayed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol this holiday season, smaller trees will also be provided to federal offices in Washington, D.C., along with ornaments and tree skirts.

Guidelines for tree skirts:

  • Make skirts out of any durable material.

  • Aim for a 5-foot diameter skirt.

  • Include an opening in center for the trunk.

  • Include a slit to allow skirt to circle the trunk. Design the skirt to overlap in the back or include

    ribbon ties, snaps, buttons, or Velcro as closures.

  • Stitch, write, or attach your name, name of group, and home county to the back of the tree skirt.

  • Include a note with the names and mailing addresses of those who contributed.

  • Tree skirts cannot include commercial logos or be divisive or offensive.

  • Tree skirts cannot be returned.

This year’s theme for the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is “Endlessly Wild and Wonderful”. With that in mind consider creating a tree skirt with a theme celebrating West Virginia such as:

  • Appalachian Culture – West Virginia Style

  • Famous West Virginians

  • Iconic Spots in West Virginia and Monongahela National Forest

  • Multiple uses of National Forests

  • Outdoor recreation

  • Plants, animals, and habitats of West Virginia

  • Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl

  • State Symbols (https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Educational/Kids_Page/symbols.cfm)

  • Unique West Virginia foods

  • West Virginia History

Completed tree skirts may be dropped off at any Monongahela National Forest office or mailed to: Gauley Ranger Station, 932 North Fork Cherry Road, Richwood, WV 26261. For more information, contact Rosanna Springston at (304) 846-2695 or rosanna.springston@usda.gov.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is made possible through a partnership with Choose Outdoors; support from the presenting sponsor, 84 Lumber; contributions from large and small companies; and help from volunteers locally and across America.

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The Bicentennial U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

As the United States celebrated the 200th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence in 1976, everyone was busy organizing events to commemorate this milestone. Monongahela National Forest staff were hard at it too. They had the task of selecting the perfect tree for the 1976 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

After providing the first tree from the USDA Forest Service in 1970, Monongahela National Forest was chosen a second time when a 41-foot red spruce tree was selected for the 1976 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

These photographs documented the process from selecting the tree to transporting it to Washington D.C., unloading it by crane, and finally placing it on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Now, 47 years later, Monongahela National Forest will provide the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

Follow the journey of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on this website, along with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 
Learn more about Monongahela National Forest online and on Facebook at Monongahela National Forest.

USDA Forest Service photos.

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Make an Ornament for 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Initiative

Make an Ornament for 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Initiative

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Monongahela National Forest invites everyone to create an Endlessly Wild and Wonderful handmade ornament for the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Donated ornaments will adorn the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree and smaller trees that will be showcased this holiday season in Washington, D.C.

“Each year a national forest is selected to provide the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and the residents of that state are asked to decorate it with ornaments that celebrate their state,” said Amy Albright, 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Project Manager. “We need your help creating handmade ornaments that capture the diversity of people, places, plants, and animals that make West Virginia so special.”

Two types of ornaments are needed:

  • Approximately 3,000 large ornaments that are brightly colored and weatherproof to withstand wind, rain and snow.
  • Nearly 9,000 smaller ornaments that are lightweight and colorful. Weatherproofing is not needed as they will be indoors.

The deadline to receive ornaments is Sept. 1, 2023. Mail them to U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, 200 Sycamore Street, Elkins WV 26241 or drop them off at any Monongahela National Forest office (look up locations here).

Surplus crafting, sewing, and clean recyclable materials that can be used to make ornaments are also needed and will be used at schools, youth groups, senior centers, and events all around the state. Drop off your surplus materials at any Monongahela National Forest office.

Participants are asked to use natural, recyclable, and repurposed materials to create these ornaments. Sharp materials that would pose a danger to people decorating the trees or could cut or nick tree lighting wires should not be used. Ornaments may not include commercial logos or be divisive or offensive. Ornaments cannot be returned. For more information about ornament sizes, requirements, and examples, click here.

Contact Julie Fosbender via email or call (304) 635-4446 for additional information about creating U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree ornaments and how your group or community can get involved.

Monongahela National Forest has partnered with the nonprofit organization Choose Outdoors to assist in the creation of a year-long conservation education campaign about the multi-use mission of the Forest Service and the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The initiative is made possible with support from the presenting sponsor, 84 Lumber, and with cash and in-kind contributions from companies large and small, along with vital support from volunteers locally and across America.

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS
SAF represents forestry professionals and advances sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology. Learn more at eforester.org.

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