<\/a>A 75-foot Lutz spruce is lit as the official 2015 Capitol Christmas Tree on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. (Architect of the Capitol photo)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The tree is tentatively scheduled for arrival in D.C. on Nov. 22, so the planning for selection and transport is essentially a counting-back process, Raile said. He said the Architect of the Capitol is expected to visit in July to select the tree and the cross-country journey once it is shipped to the Lower 48 is expected to last about two weeks.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The only other Capitol tree from Alaska came from the Chugach National Forest in <\/a>2015<\/a>. Since there is a rotation among Forest Service regions for the tree, the Tongass was chosen when Alaska’s turn came up this year as the state’s only other national forest, Raile said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t A Forest Service press release Wednesday announcing the Tongass selection quoted top Alaska politicians, among others.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “I am excited to announce that Alaska’s Tongass National Forest has been chosen to provide this year’s Capitol Christmas Tree to grace the West Lawn,” U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in a prepared statement. “The Tongass is a special place for so many Alaskans who call it home – a place rich with resources and Native cultural history. This holiday season, I can’t wait to share some of the amazing aspects of the region and our state with the Capitol and the entire nation as we welcome The People’s Tree.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Gov. Mike Dunleavy, in a statement, declared “it’s an honor to have the 2024 U.S. Capitol tree come from Alaska. With over 22 million acres of pristine wilderness, Alaska’s forests not only symbolize the grandeur of our nation but also embody the spirit of resilience and unity. As we prepare to share a piece of Alaska with the nation, I want to acknowledge Alaska’s National Forests team for their tireless work. Congratulations to everyone involved.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t