Wyoming Ornament Shortage Could Affect Capitol Christmas Tree
An Engelmann spruce from Wyoming headed to Washington as the national Christmas tree needs a little help — ornaments from its home state.
Officials say they’ve got only about 10 percent of the 6,000 ornaments Wyoming needs to send to Washington for its U.S. Capitol Christmas tree and 75 companion trees to be displayed in federal buildings.
The trees are coming from the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The state wants to submit ornaments on the theme “Wyoming — Forever West.” Ornaments are due in Jackson Oct. 15.
Submissions so far include ornaments made from boot-shaped cookie cutters and some braided lariats. Others include a handmade miniature sunbonnet and plastic pine cones made of recycled bottles.
Tasha Locke of Casper helped her three children fashion their submission from an old license plate and a green coat hanger.
“It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to actually represent our state and show them Wyoming cares,” Locke told the Casper Star-Tribune. “I think that’s really kind of special.”
The tree has been selected but won’t be cut until November.
Children ages 5 to 19 who submit an ornament for the outdoor tree are entered in a drawing for a trip to Washington to light the tree with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in December.
“It’s not just about the youth,” said Mary Cernicek, 2010 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree coordinator and Bridger-Teton National Forest spokeswoman. “We want everyone to do this.”
The tree will tour Wyoming after it’s cut before heading east for a late-November installation.
Plans call for the spruce to be lowered into a 5-foot deep hole, strung with lights and decorated with handcrafted ornaments made by Wyoming residents.
Submitted ornaments must be 9 to 12 inches tall and made to withstand 3 weeks of winter weather. Cash donations can also be made to the Grand Teton Association.
White House Christmas Ornament Honors William McKinley
The White House Historical Association celebrates the presidency of William McKinley (1897-1901), the twenty-fifth president of the United States, with the release of its 30th commemorative ornament. The last Civil War veteran to serve as president, McKinley was idolized by the American people during his presidency, tragically cut short by an assassin’s bullets six months into his second term. The ornament, reflecting the patriotic mood of the country and McKinley’s love of music, depicts the United States Marine Band performing at the 1900 Army-Navy reception at the President’s House.
“The 2010 ornament continues a tradition of trimming the tree with American history begun by the association in 1981, “ said Neil W. Horstman, president of the White House Historical Association. “William McKinley presided over a return to economic prosperity, but his greatest legacy was his decisive leadership of the nation in the war against Spain over Cuban independence. That victory in the Spanish-American War paved the way for America to enter the new century as an international power.â€
The White House observance of Christmas was not an official event before the 20th century. First families decorated the house modestly with greens and privately celebrated the yuletide with family and friends. Christmas celebrations at the White House during the McKinley years were quiet gatherings that usually centered around a turkey dinner with the president’s brother and his family. There was little merry-making because of the absence of young children and Mrs. McKinley’s poor health.
Of the previous White House ornaments, 22 honored presidents. The 1989 ornament paid tribute to the bicentennial of the American presidency, and 1992 honored the laying of the White House cornerstone in 1792. The bicentennial of the White House as home of the president was commemorated in 2000. In 2002, the ornament honored the centennial of the restoration of the White House and the building of the West Wing.
The cost of the ornament is $18.95 and includes packing and standard shipping and can be ordered from the White House Historical Association, P.O. Box 96586, Washington, D.C. 20090-6586, or you can call toll free 1-800-555-2451, or visit online at www.whitehousehistory.org. Each of the 29 ornaments (from 1981-2009) is also available, along with educational brochures.
The White House Historical Association was established in 1961 as a non-profit organization to enhance the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the White House. All proceeds from its trusts and sales of ornaments, publications and other association products are used to fund acquisitions of historic furnishings and art works for the permanent White House collection, assist in the preservation of the public rooms, and further its educational mission.
National Christmas Tree Convention Underway
The National Christmas Tree Association is meeting this week at their annual convention in North Carolina. When you walk into the National Christmas Tree Association Convention, you can find a little bit of everything. Christmas lights, of course, along with the tools for pruning and harvesting trees. About 450 growers and suppliers are on hand for the annual event.
“You know it’s a good learning experience for growers to get together and see how others are doing, what’s been successful, what’s not been successful,†said Rick Dungey with the National Christmas Tree Association.
Christmas trees are big business, the Association estimates a $1.1 billion industry annually in the U.S. which employs about 100,000 people. The USDA said Christmas trees brought in $100 million to the state in 2008, second in the nation in Christmas Tree production.
But the industry’s not immune to the economy.
“We’re having to work harder to sell the same amount of trees,†said David Cartner with Cartner Tree Farm in Avery County.
Cartner thinks the Green movement will increase sales because natural trees help the environment while they’re growing and can be recycled any number of ways, like mulching. But among the decorations and even Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree, you won’t find any plastic trees.
“Having a plastic tree makes about as much sense to me as having plastic flowers for Valentines Day,” said Dungey.
