National Christmas Tree To Make Stop In Midwest City Saturday

During its 20-day journey, the National Christmas Tree will make a pit stop in Midwest City for residents to view on Saturday, November 19 at Tinker Air Force Base.

Thursday, November 17th 2011, 6:11 pm

By: News 9


The nation's Christmas tree will make a brief stop in the metro during its 20-day journey from California to Washington, D.C.

The 65-foot white fir Christmas tree was cut from the Stanislaus National Forest near Sonora, California. It's was chosen to be illuminated at the base of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. for the 2011 Christmas season.

The tree was loaded onto a truck November 5 for its 4,500-mile trek from the Stanislaus National Forest in northern California to the nations' capitol. The tree will make a pit stop in Midwest City for residents to view on Saturday, November 19 at Tinker Air Force Base.

The tradition of "The People's Tree" began in 1964, and the job of providing it rotates among national forests. This year, the Stanislaus National Forest was chosen to provide the tree, marking the fourth time the Capitol tree will come from California.

Once in place, it will be decorated with 10,000 lights and 3,000 ornaments, including thousands handmade by Californians. The official lighting ceremony at the U.S. Capitol will be December 6 and hosted by Speaker of the House John Boehner. A seven-year-old Sonoma, California boy will officially light the tree.

Come January, when the tree has served its purpose, it will be ground into mulch and spread across the Capitol gardens.

Stop in Oklahoma:
Saturday, November 19
Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City
2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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