Eleven lucky people took a road trip of a lifetime this holiday season when they delivered the U.S. Capitol's Christmas tree from Arizona to Washington, D.C.
It was the first time that Arizona got to provide the Capitol Christmas tree, and the U.S. Forest Service and its partners decided to do it up right.
"We did 28 events in 10 days throughout Arizona," said Jason Mangum, who coordinated details of the trip. "We visited every corner of Arizona."
Organizers weren't sure if any previous Capitol Christmas trees have taken such a tour on the way to the Capitol since the tradition began in 1964. But they know they made twice as many stops as last year's tree from Montana and many more stops than the 2007 tree's short trip through Vermont.
"Every place there were special things that occurred," Mangum said of the trip. "It was really an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life."
Prescott was a special stop for him because he grew up here. He now is the parks and recreation director in Show Low, which represented White Mountain communities on the tree tour since the tree came from the White Mountains.
"Prescott was probably the most perfect location," since the tree sat next to the scenic courthouse plaza in Arizona's official Christmas City, he said.
The trip was especially poignant for Jim Payne, a Forest Service public affairs officer for the Southwestern U.S.
It basically was Payne's last assignment before he retires at the end of this year. And what an assignment, driving 4,600 miles in 20 days and then helping organize events at the Capitol.
"For me, it was the swan song for my career," Payne said.
Both Mangum and Payne felt like the tree touched people in an especially heartening way during these tough economic times.
"This tree became more than just a tree," Mangum said. "It became a symbol of hope."
Payne added, "I think people needed something positive in these hard economic times, and in a sense the tree was a rock star." Hundreds of TV stations around the world featured the tree.
The 65-foot tree decorated with more than 10,000 ornaments made by Arizona schoolchildren now stands proudly in front of the U.S. Capitol. Unlike the White House tree that has come from a tree farm in recent decades, the Capitol tree comes from a different national forest in a different state each year, Mangum said.
The tree caravan included a second semi-truck carrying 80 companion trees for various federal buildings in D.C., as well as six other vehicles carrying people who organized events, coordinated publicity, cared for the tree and sold merchandise. Sponsors donated nearly all the expenses outside of Forest Service salaries, and the trucks ran on biodiesel.
Mangum and Payne had more memories of their trip with Arizona's tree than they could recount.
Hopi elders at Keams Canyon blessed the tree and the crew.
"That was probably the most emotional experience for us," Payne said.
In Williams, the sheriff rode in on a horse and stopped the tree caravan for not having a permit. Luckily, Santa was on hand to provide one.
"In Douglas, we literally turned the corner and a marching band was there to greet us," along with about 800 citizens, Payne said. "In Bisbee, the little old ladies were almost in tears. They said, 'Nobody's done anything like this in our little town before.'"
Thousands of people signed the banner adorning the truck carrying the tree.
In stops between Arizona and the Capitol, many onlookers learned Arizona's landscape was more varied than its deserts, Mangum and Payne said.
"They were shocked that something like this (tree) would come from Arizona," Mangum said.
"We got to show the nation we have incredible natural resources here in Arizona," said Rick Davalos, the tree project coordinator and a district ranger on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest where the tree came from.
Branson, Mo., and Nashville put on great country music shows, he said. The crew spent Thanksgiving in Roanoke.
The Dec. 8 lighting ceremony featured White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers, a Marine Corps band and speakers including Gov. Jan Brewer, U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and U.S. Sen. John McCain.
A young girl from Surprise named Kaitlyn Ferencik won the chance to turn on the tree's lights.
"It looks fantastic sitting there," Mangum said.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, December 31, 2009
Article comment by:
ahstucson
I think that when compared to the needless war(s) we are fighting right now and the profits that bank execs have made off of stimulus funds, the expense of this tour is minor, especially in comparison to the sense of pride and inspiration it clearly allowed so many Arizonans to share. What's wrong with a little fanfare from time to time, especially for something that represents more than just celebrity or fashion.
Posted: Sunday, December 27, 2009
Article comment by:
Yukon Jack
Looks like all somebody got for Christmas this year was a lump of coal!
Posted: Sunday, December 27, 2009
Article comment by:
what really counts....
wow.. what's up with the SCROOGE! waste of money? THINK OF THE KIDS!!! in this economy it could be the only memory they have of this holiday season...
Posted: Sunday, December 27, 2009
Article comment by:
What a WASTE!
I find it hard to rationalize sending a group of forest service crew to Washington using the scenic route. This is a waste of money, no matter who contributed, and a waste of newspaper space. If you truly care about the travels of a Christmas tree and the 80 companion trees (it's ridiculous to even type that!) as well as the "Lucky" people chosen to follow it around, then life has already passed you by. What an WASTE of money!
Posted: Friday, December 25, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
12.4 Trillion Dollar national debt and we are driving trees on nationwide road trips? Yes of course " Sponsors donated nearly all the expenses outside of Forest Service salaries, and the trucks ran on biodiesel." so you probably only had to pay a couple $10K and the salaries of a half dozen government employees.
