[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21380]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 19, 2011

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor 
Stanislaus National Forest Service for supplying the 2011 U.S. Capitol 
Christmas Tree. No season generates more enthusiasm, heightened sense 
of good will, deeper traditions, and economic benefits than the annual 
Christmas season, and the Stanislaus National Forest Service provided 
the single and most beautiful symbol of the season--the Christmas Tree.
  This year, Speaker of the House John Boehner hosted the tree lighting 
ceremony on the West Front Lawn of the United States Capitol Building 
on Tuesday, December 6. Seven-year-old Johnny Crawford from Sonora, 
California was the lucky child who flipped the switch and turned on the 
10,000 LED lights that illuminated the tree.
  Since 1970, it has become an honor for one of the National Forests to 
be asked to provide the Capitol Tree. The appointed National Forest, in 
turn, engages help from diverse partners throughout its respective 
State. The opportunity to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree becomes a 
state-wide celebration and civic event, leaving a lasting impression on 
all who are fortunate enough to be involved.
  2011 is only the fourth time California has provided the U.S. Capitol 
Christmas Tree--the last time was in 1995. Known as ``The People's 
Tree,'' the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from the 
Stanislaus National Forest located in the Central Sierra Nevada 
Mountains.
  The Forest Service recommended 15 trees to the Superintendent of the 
U.S. Capitol Grounds, Ted Bechtel, in late August of 2011. He made his 
final decision after a good night's sleep. Several aspects are taken 
into account during the selection, including the shape and fullness of 
the tree, the tree color and foliage condition, and species 
characteristics of needle retention and branch pliability. Of course, 
access to the tree for ease of cutting, loading, and transporting are 
also considered.
  This year's 118-year-old Sierra White Fir tree is 63 feet tall. It 
weighs 8,300 pounds and traveled 4,280 miles from California to 
Washington, D.C. Along the way, it made 23 stops; 13 in California and 
11 across the nation. An additional 100 companion trees were delivered 
to the capital and placed in federal offices and congressional offices. 
They also transported the tree donated by the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk 
Indians to the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. 
The tree's arrival received international press and showed the rest of 
the world that our nation has the freedom to celebrate a religious 
holiday at the Capitol.
  In addition, the Stanislaus National Forest Service held a Statewide 
Song Search and Art Contest. They collected 2,500 outdoor and 2,200 
indoor Christmas ornaments made by Californians for the Tree. The use 
of recycled and natural materials was encouraged. Also, they conducted 
a food drive for Gallup, New Mexico, the third poorest city in the 
nation. The statewide food drive involved several food banks from 
throughout the state that donated a pallet of food as well as collected 
food at every stop made in California. The food was transported to 
Gallup, New Mexico, and the community was very appreciative of the more 
than 14 pallets of food that the team delivered on November 16.
  The Stanislaus National Forest also coordinated all the donations to 
fund the harvesting, transport, and tour of the U.S. Capitol Christmas 
Tree. Additionally, there were many that assisted in the momentous 
occasion that made it possible. Special recognition should go to Maria 
Benech, 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Coordinator, who worked 
tirelessly on the project. Central Sierra Arts Council helped with the 
statewide song search and Art Competition. Gini Siebert of Out of Hand 
helped create over 1,000 clay ornaments for the Tree and the indoor 
trees by garnering donations from Sonora businesses to pay for 
classroom art projects. The Sonora Garden Club made the 48 sprays that 
were given as gifts at each community the Tree visited across the 
United States. Fire on the Mountain were critical in the November 5 
Tree Cutting Celebration in Sonora. Mark Patton, Frank Gilbeau, and 
Danny Hess cut and laid the Tree down on the special cradle without 
breaking a branch in the 17 degree weather. The City of Sonora hosted a 
parade and escort on November 5. And finally, Cal Trans and CHP who 
helped the Stanislaus National Forest Service move the tree from Point 
A to Barstow.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the Stanislaus 
National Forest Service for a job well done in supplying the 2011 U.S. 
Capitol Christmas Tree.

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