The Tree Has Hit the Big Time!

Saturday, December 4, 2010 - You know the Tree has hit the big time when Stephen Colbert decides to poke a little fun at it.

Click here to see a pretty funny clip from "The Colbert Report" regarding the Tree and its Twitter account.

Fox News actually called the Tree "perhaps the hippest, most technology-savvy Tree to grace the Capitol ground. This year's Tree has a blog. And a Facebook account. And a Twitter account."

Wyoming's Tree is blowing them all out of the water!

Getting the Tree Ready for Its Close-Up!

Thursday, December 2, 2010 - Our Tree is looking good! This week, staff from the Superintendent of the Capitol's office have been working around the clock to string up lights and decorate the 2010 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

After the Tree's arrival Monday morning, U.S. Capitol workers lifted the Tree from the truck and placed it into a 5-foot deep hole and filled it up with cement. Check out this video of the Tree being set-up on the Capitol lawn.

Since the Tree's arrival, the branches have fallen and our perfect Tree is impressing everyone at the Capitol. Officials from the Capitol have said Wyoming's Tree is truly one of the most beautiful, and fullest, they have ever seen! The Tree was extremely well taken care of on the road (dripping water when it was removed, as they had never seen before), and workers at the Capitol could not believe we got such a full Tree tied up and onto the trailer. Way to go Wyoming!

Only 4 more days until the lighting - we can't wait!

The Tree Has Arrived!

Monday, November 29, 2010 - The Tree made it!

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree was officially handed over to the Architect of the Capitol today. It was a long and joyous day for all of us on the team and many folks from throughout the state of Wyoming who shared in this journey with us.

The team left Hershey Park this morning at midnight and headed to the 4-H Headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland. There, we removed the banner and prepped the trucks for the final leg of our journey.

Josh and Greg remove the banner from the truck.

Mary Ann, driver Jeff Underwood's daughter who joined us in Dahlonega, helps Officer Whitehair and Mary roll up the banner.

After we were done staging in Chevy Chase, we were escorted into Washington by the Capitol police. After being checked out by the police dogs, we began the process of taking the tarp off the tree and dismantling the box.

Team Tree removes the tarp and dismantles the truck early in the morning.

While it was 4:00 in the morning, we were all energized by the excitement of finally delivering the Tree. When we pulled up to the Capitol and saw Wyoming's Tree parked in front of it, our journey felt complete.

Wyoming's perfect Tree parked in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Team Tree poses for one last photo with the Tree before turning it over to the Capitol.

We posed for a few last photos before we officially turned the Tree over to the Architect of the Capitol, Stephen Ayers, at 9:55 a.m. On hand to welcome the Tree to Washington was U.S. Senators Michael Enzi and John Barrasso, who requested that Wyoming have the opportunity to gift the Tree to the Capitol for the first time ever.

The Tree pulls into the U.S. Capitol.

Wyoming's Tree right before it is removed from the truck and erected on the west lawn.



CCT Coordinator Mary Cernicek, Senator John Barrasso and Senator Mike Enzi.

Our driver Jeff Underwood picked up his family in Dahlonega and his wife Cindy and two children Samuel and Mary Ann were there today. The whole family rode into the Capitol together to deliver the 2010 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

Jeff, his wife Cindy and children Samuel and Mary Ann before delivering the Tree to the U.S. Capitol.



After the press conference, the Architect of the Capitol's office began the process of lifting the Tree of the truck and placing onto the west lawn. A crane was used to lift and suspend the Tree and then lower it into a five-foot hole where it was sealed in with cement.

Seeing the Tree lowered into its new home on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Our beautiful Tree will now be decorated with the more than 5,000 ornaments handmade by the people of Wyoming. The official lighting will be next Tuesday, December 7.

Stay tuned for updates this week as we deliver companion trees to other offices and prep for the lighting next week!

We're Almost to Washington!

Sunday, November 28, 2010 - After 19 days, more than 35 celebrations and 4,800 miles, today marks the last day of our journey across country. To say it has been an incredible experience for all of us would be an understatement.

The excitement and enthusiasm of the people of Wyoming over our Tree has been spectacular. The Tree really represents the very best of the Cowboy State and we certainly have a lot to be proud of. Tomorrow morning Wyoming will be presenting our nation's capital with a spectacular Tree and the well wishes of people from across our state and around the country.

Today we spent the day staging the trucks for our arrival bright and early at the Capitol. We leave tonight at midnight to head to the Fairgrounds at Chevy Chase where we will be scoped out by Capitol police and escorted onto the premises. From there, we wait it out until the Tree is officially presented to the Architect of the Capitol at 9:55 a.m. Senator John Barrasso, who requested that Wyoming be able to gift the Tree this year, will be on hand to accept the Tree at the Capitol.

CCT Coordinator Mary Cernicek talks about the end of our journey and presenting the Tree to the Capitol tomorrow morning.

Once the Tree is turned over to the Capitol, they will have a week to put the Tree up and decorate it. Be sure to stay tuned to the blog and Facebook page to see updates on the Tree being decorated in Washington and the official lighting on December 7!

A Sweet Celebration at Hershey Park

Saturday, November 27, 2010 - The Tree and its team arrived at Hershey Park today for a very sweet celebration!

President of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Bill Simpson welcomed the Capitol Christmas Tree today to Hershey Park. This was the first time the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree has ever stopped at the park. At the celebration was a band from Hershey Park and a few colorful characters.

CCT Coordinator Mary Cernicek spoke about the Tree and its long cross-country journey before being presented with an enormous Hershey bar in honor of the Tree's visit.

Team Tree and new friends from Hershey Park.

A huge thank you to all the wonderful folks at Hershey for taking such great care of the Tree and the team! If you are in the area, stop by and see the Tree at the park today!

NACS Roadside Stop - Special Thanks!

On the way to Hershey Park, the Tree stopped at Sheetz in Mount Jackson to refuel. The store had free t-shirts and giveaways for customers in honor of our stop. Unfortunately, the hummer below was not one of the giveaways. A special thank you to the entire team there for hosting us!

The Tree Hits the East Coast

Friday, November 26, 2010 - The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree made its way up the east coast today, signaling the final leg of our nearly three week journey. The Tree will be delivered to the U.S. Capitol bright and early Monday morning leaving us with only two more stops after today. We cannot believe how quickly the trip has flown by!

We made our first pit-stop this morning in Troutman, North Carolina where we visited Wilco Travel Center. The incredible staff there actually had lunch waiting for us upon arrival along with snacks for the road. I realize I may sound like a broken record, but the thoughtfulness and generosity of all the people we meet along the way is just incredible. We must be the best fed and most well taken care of group in the country! Check out this video of our new friends at the Wilco Travel Plaza in Troutman, North Carolina.

After fueling up, we made our way to Staunton, Virginia. The Salvation Army handed out beverages to the crowd and a local radio station provided Christmas music at the celebration. Hundreds of folks showed up to see the Tree and we were delighted to have the opportunity to talk about the Tree and the great state of Wyoming. We were also fortunate to have the City of Staunton Fire and Rescue come water the Tree for us.

The crowd in Staunton, Virginia.

The City of Staunton Fire and Rescue came by to help us water the Tree.

Performers from the Stauton Academy of Ballet came by to see the Tree after a performance in their Nutcracker costumes!

After dinner, the team checked in to the Comfort Inn in Staunton where kind notes and bags of candy awaited us! Thank you to the Comfort Inn for making our stay so special!

Dahlonega: Our Home Away from Home

Thursday, November 25, 2010 - It's Thanksgiving Day and Team Tree is here in Dahlonega, Georgia. Spending the holiday away from all of our families is not easy, but the people of Dahlonega have gone out of their way to make us feel right at home. Their incredible hospitality and generosity was apparent throughout the day.

We started out today with a fishing trip to Lanier Lake. A group of locals volunteered to take the entire team out bright and early. It was a great break for all of us and gave us the opportunity to see more of the beautiful area!

Team Tree and our new fishing partners at Lake Lanier.

Of course no fishing trip would be complete without a little friendly competition, so we were each paired up with one of locals. And wouldn't you know it, it was one of the gals who took the crown. Sorry boys!

Weighing our catches!

The blonde blogger couldn't resist the opportunity to brag a little about her victory with her partner Jim.

After our fishing trip, we headed back into town where the Dahlonega-Lumpkin Chamber of Commerce had arranged a very special Thanksgiving meal for the whole team. Members of the local community cooked a feast for the team! We are so appreciative of everyone who volunteered their time to ensure we had a special Thanksgiving away from home. It meant a great deal to all of us.

Enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with residents of Dahlonega.

When I was talking with our driver Jeff Underwood, who is a native of Dahlonega, about

the incredible hospitality and welcome we have received here, he said that he experienced the exact same thing in Wyoming. The people of Wyoming welcomed Jeff the same way the people of Dahlonega have welcomed us. While I know this is going to sound pretty cheesy, the Tree really does seem to bring out the very best in people. And for those of us fortunate enough to see it firsthand, it has been an incredible experience.

Thank you so much to all the people who gave up time with their families today to take us fishing, cook us a delicious Thanksgiving meal and make us feel right at home here in Georgia. Happy Thanksgiving!