National Christmas tree visits city

Several hundred people showed up to see the Capitol Holiday Tree pass through Mountain Home Sunday.

Hundreds of people gathered to welcome the 2003 Capitol Holiday Tree to Mountain Home on Sunday.

With lights flashing, a police escort led the way for the massive Englemann Spruce into the parking area at the Desert Mountain Visitor Center. This is the first time Idaho has been selected to provide the holiday tree for the nation's capitol and area residents helped to send it off for its trip to Washington, D.C. in style.

Since 1970, the "people's tree" has come from a National Forest. This year, for the first time the state of Idaho was given the honor of providing the 2003 Holiday Tree. Early this summer, Mathew Evans, the Landscape Architect of the Nation's Capitol visited several trees within the Payette and Boise National Forests before making the selection. The 'perfect' tree was chosen from the Boise National Forest. Its exact location was kept secret until the tree was cut earlier this month.

Once cut, the 11,000-pound tree never touched the ground as it was carefully lifted by Crane West to the waiting truck and trailer provided by Jack Buell Trucking. The next time it stands erect will be at the nation's capitol.

Cub Scout Pack 195 led the Pledge of Allegiance as the Mountain Home AFB Honor Guard posted the colors to begin the festivities to welcome the tree.

Christmas music, provided by Mountain Home High School Band Ensemble, filled the air as visitors took an opportunity to climb the steps for a closer look at the shrink-wrapped tree and specially devised watering system that will help keep the tree fresh during its journey.

Schwan Food Company, a corporate partner with the state and other organizations in sponsoring the evergreen tree to the lawn, provided ice cream sandwiches to all those attending the festivities. For those who preferred something warmer, Moxie Java offered hot chocolate and coffee.

The tree, along with a number of companion trees, will reach Washington D.C. on Dec. 1. Then comes the enormous task of decorating. Nearly 7,000 ornaments have been crafted by school children across the state to accompany the 10,000 lights to adorn the tree.

Students of Marsha Stowell's special design class at East Elementary School presented their creations of wooden gingerbread men to be added to the ornaments for the tree.

The city of Mountain Home also will have an ornament hanging on the tree. Mayor Dave Jett presented the desert/mountain logo from the community.

One of the biggest challenges faced was to find the funds to transport the tree, 60 smaller companion trees and all the ornaments and preparing for the festive celebrations. The project is being financed through donations and sales of memorabilia. Souvenir items were on sale during the event and are still available through the website, www.capitolholidaytree2003.org. A portion of the proceeds from the sales will be used to send school children and other Idaho citizens to Washington, D.C. to represent Idaho during the lighting ceremony.

The ceremony is set for Dec. 11 in Washington, D.C.