A Christmas tree that will be displayed on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol will make a stop in Lenexa on Tuesday.
In its long journey from the forests of Nevada, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will include a stop at 84 Lumber, 8940 Marshall Drive, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The event is free and open to the public.
Every year since 1970, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is chosen by the U.S. Forest Service to be transported from its forest home, then adorned and placed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
En route to Washington D.C., the tree makes several whistle stops to let people across the country check it out and celebrate its journey. The U.S. Forest Service chooses what cities the tree will make a stop.
“We don’t pick the same route every year or same location so that everyone has an opportunity to try to feel the magic of the tree,” said Amy Smiley, vice president of marketing for 84 Lumber, which is sponsoring this year’s route.
The event will include holiday music with hot beverages, and family activities, a card and banner signing to honor active-duty service members, Veterans Day tribute and photo opportunities with the tree.
The tree is coming from Nevada
This year’s tree comes from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada, the largest forest in the lower 48 states at about 6.3 million acres.
“Many people think of Nevada as all desert. They don’t think we have trees,” said Cheva Gabor, Nevada state liaison for the U.S. Forest Service. “So we are happy to demonstrate that we actually have big, beautiful trees that can sit on the Capitol lawn.”
The chosen tree is named Silver Bell, a red fir tree that’s about 50 years old and stands at about 53 feet, Gabor said.
“She was growing in an open space, so she looks like the perfect Christmas tree,” she said. “And because she’s a red fir, she has really dense clusters of needles… It’s very easy to hang ornaments from those tree.”
The tree goes through a process to prepare for travel
To prepare Silver Bell for its travel, the Forest Service went through a delicate process of decorating it with Christmas lights and 23,000 handmade ornaments by Nevadans. It was then placed horizontally on its trailer and hooked to an 80-gallon bladder of water to make sure it’s well hydrated.
The goal is that it remains in pristine condition, Gabor said.
“There’s a very careful process of making sure the branches are handled delicately, that we don’t break branches, because we want it to arrive in perfect condition,” Gabor said.
The tree will remain horizontal on the trailer, but people can check out its ornaments and lights through a special viewing window.
“She’s got lights on her so you can see her (lit) through the window [of] the truck and trailer, and the cab has the most beautiful wrap on it,” Gabor said.
The event is meant to unify people
U.S. Forest Service employees and Nevada residents are excited for people in Kansas to take in their work.
“The stops we’re making in communities is really where (Nevadans) get to see the results of their hard work and make that connection with (us),” Gabor said. “They’re so proud to have the tree coming from Nevada, and they’re excited for people in Lenexa to see the tree.”
In these “interesting times,” Smiley said, the event is meant to bring everyone together and get in the holiday spirit through a variety of activities.
It’s a chance for people to come together and feel community, not only with local residents, but also with people across the U.S.
“I think now more than ever, people want to feel a sense of happiness, that we’re unified. We’re one nation, and we want to be the conduit for that,” Smiley said.
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