[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 6 (Thursday, January 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      BRINGING UTAH'S CENTENNIAL TREE TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I join the millions of Americans whose 
holidays were made just a little brighter this year by the sight of the 
magnificent 70-foot Engleman Spruce from Utah's Manti-LaSalle National 
Forest.
  I speak not only of those fortunate enough to see the tree in 
Washington, but of others who saw this giant tree of the great American 
west pass through their cities and towns en route to Washington. Like 
the relay that brought the Olympic flame to Atlanta, the journey for 
Utah's centennial Christmas tree required no less in the way of 
planning and cooperation.
  Many individuals and organizations contributed to this project. In a 
true holiday spirit, Mack trucks, which has a subsidiary in Pleasant 
Grove, UT, generously transported this special tree, along with 40 
smaller trees to be displayed at other sites in the Nation's Capital, 
the 2,000 miles to Washington.
  Stops along the way included Salt Lake City, UT; Cheyenne, WY; 
Spearfish, Rapid City, Pierre, and Sioux Falls, SD; LaCrosse, WI; South 
Bend, IN; Pittsburgh and Allentown, PA; and Hagerstown, MD. At each 
stop, people came out to see this great symbol of the season and to 
spread holiday cheer and good will.
  At its final destination, in Washington, on the west lawn of the U.S. 
Capitol, the tree was appropriately welcomed with holiday carols sung 
by the Salt Lake Symphonic Choir and the Congressional Chorus. Speaker 
Gingrich's two nieces threw the switch that illuminated this 
spectacular Christmas tree. The staff of the Architect of the Capitol 
should be commended for the wonderful job they did erecting the tree 
and decorating it with the ornaments made by Utah's children.
  Mr. President, Utah takes special pride in having provided the 
national holiday tree from its soil, particularly during the year 
commemorating our centennial anniversary as a State. And, we were proud 
that Utah's history was also a part of this holiday display. Under the 
tree was a miniature railroad to commemorate another great Utah event: 
the joining of the Nation's railway system with a golden spike at 
Promontory, UT, in 1869. Those who conceived and constructed these 
railroad cars did a fantastic job.
  Finally, Mr. President, I want to reiterate a special note of thanks 
to the organizations and companies that worked diligently to make the 
tree the great success that it became. They include the many local 
communities surrounding Orem, UT; Utah's U.S. Forest Service personnel; 
the Utah Automotive Club; and such corporate sponsors as Mack trucks, 
D.M. Bowman, Inc.; Poulan weedeater; and the Hale Brake and Wheel Co. 
Few efforts like this are successful without the support of the 
community, and these organizations among many others helped to make 
Utah's centennial tree to the District of Columbia project possible.

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