60-Foot Christmas Tree In New Mexico Chosen For US Capitol

WASHINGTON, DC — Have you picked out your Christmas tree yet? The folks at the U.S. Capitol have -- a 60-foot blue spruce in a canyon in Red River, New Mexico.

The tree that will grace the lawn of the Capitol this Christmas was cut down on Wednesday in a ceremony at Carson National Forest.

It won't be here for another two and half weeks. Instead, it will tour New Mexico before heading out on Nov. 24 for Joint Base Andrews.

Workers had to use two cranes to jerk the tree up after the trunk was severed with a chain saw. The tree was then put on a flatbed trailer.

In addition to New Mexico, the tree will make stops in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia.

One national forest is chosen each year to provide the tree. This year, it was Carson National Forest.

"Hundreds of spectators and dignitaries came out to the site for a cutting ceremony that included a blessing from a native elder as well as an address from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham," the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree project said on their Faceobok page. "Known as the People's Tree this towering evergreen will make a journey of more than 1,500 miles to Washington D.C. where it will grace the mall of the United States Capitol Building."

The tradition for "The People's Tree" started in 1964 when Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John W. McCormack (D-MA) placed a live Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn. The tree lived for three years before it died.

"In 1970, the Capitol Architect asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide a Christmas tree," the project's website states. "Since then, a different national forest has been chosen each year to provide 'The People’s Tree.' This national forest also works with state forests to provide companion trees that are smaller Christmas trees for offices in Washington, D.C."