US Capitol Christmas Tree 2014 Tour Dates

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Forest Service

Chippewa National Forest

200 Ash Avenue NW

Cass Lake, MN 56633

Web: www.fs.usda.gov/chippewa Media Contact: Mike Theune
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News Release

Release No.: FY140903-37

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U.S. CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE 2014 TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

“People’s Tree to visit nearly 30 communities between Minnesota and Washington, DC”

CASS LAKE, Minnesota (Sept. 9, 2014) – For the past 50 years, a beautiful tree has appeared on the

west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. during the holiday season. The U.S. Forest Service,

in partnership with Choose Outdoors and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, will bring this special gift

from Minnesota to Washington, D.C. for the 2014 season, involving nearly 30 communities along the

way.

“This annual tradition provides the opportunity for communities to celebrate the spirit of the

season and the forests that connect us all,” said Darla Lenz, Forest Supervisor of the Chippewa

National Forest. “It is truly an honor that the Chippewa National Forest was selected to provide

this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and we are extremely proud to share a tree that represents

Minnesota’s natural resources.

With great fanfare, the tree – a whopping 80-foot plus white spruce– will leave the Chippewa National

Forest followed by a caravan of caretakers for the journey to the U.S. Capitol.

“From Minnesota’s Chippewa National Forest all the way to Washington D.C., the 2014 Capitol

Christmas Tree will showcase our state’s natural beauty in communities across the country,” Senator

Klobuchar said.

The tree will be cut during a public ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 29 and will then be moved to Bemidji

State University, where it will be prepared for the nearly 2,000-mile cross-country expedition.

70 companion trees will be provided by the Minnesota Tree Growers Association to decorate the

inside of the U.S. Capitol building and other sites throughout Washington, D.C., along with 10,000

ornaments created by children and others in Minnesota as a gift from the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”

-more-

The tree lighting is expected to occur in early December, as determined by the U. S. Rep. John

Boehner, Speaker of the House, and will be broadcast on C-SPAN.

For news, updates, tour information and to track the tree cross-country, visit

www.capitolchristmastree.com.

2014 Capitol Christmas Tree Route Stops:

• Itasca State Park, MN (Nov. 2)

• Bemidji, MN (Nov. 2)

• Walker, MN (Nov. 3)

• Cass Lake, MN ( Nov. 3)

• Blackduck, MN (Nov. 4)

• Marcell, MN (Nov. 4)

• Deer River, MN ( Nov. 4)

• Cohasset, MN (Nov 4)

• Grand Rapids, MN ( Nov. 5)

• Duluth, MN (Nov. 5)

• West Saint Paul, MN (Nov. 6)

• Eden Prairie, MN (Nov 6)

• Rochester, MN (Nov. 7)

• Red Wing, MN (Nov. 7)

• Owatonna, MN (Nov. 8)

• Fort Snelling, MN ( Nov. 8)

• Madison, WI (Nov. 10)

• Milwaukee, WI (Nov. 11)

• Wilmington, IL (Nov. 12)

• Elwood, IL (Nov. 12)

• Grand Rapids, MI (Nov. 13)

• Dearborn, MI (Nov. 15)

• Cleveland, OH (Nov. 16)

• Chillicothe, OH (Nov 16)

• Charleston, WV ( Nov. 17)

• Marietta, OH (Nov. 18)

• Wheeling, WV (Nov. 18)

• Andrews Air Force Base, MD (Nov. 20)

*Dates are subject to change. Additional stops may be added.

-end-

About Chippewa National Forest

The Chippewa National Forest is the first national forest established east of the Mississippi River,

with nearly 700,000 acres at the River’s headwaters in north-central Minnesota. The Forest shares

boundaries with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and contains outstanding cultural resources; premier

habitat for aquatic, riparian and terrestrial wildlife and plants, including nesting habitat for the largest

breeding population of bald eagles in the lower 48 states; and vast wetland resources. Visit the

Chippewa National Forest’s website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/chippewa for more information.

About the U.S. Forest Service

The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the

nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency

manages 193 million acres of public land; provides assistance to state and private landowners; and

maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service

manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone.

Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2

billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of

the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most

Americans live. For more information, see www.fs.fed.us.

About Choose Outdoors:

Choose Outdoors is a coalition for outdoor recreation comprised of people and organizations who are

passionate about outdoor recreation, support public lands, waters, and the agencies charged with their

care. www.chooseoutdoors.org.

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should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint

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