This year’s tree comes from the Chippewa National Forest in northern Minnesota and recently arrived at the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol after completing a 2,000-mile cross-country journey 

The tree is decorated with thousands of ornaments that have been handcrafted by people from across Minnesota and was lit by Aaron Urban – a 10-year-old boy from Maryland who is battling brain cancer 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today celebrated the Minnesota tree at the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, D.C. This year’s tree comes from the Chippewa National Forest in northern Minnesota and recently arrived at the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol after completing a 2,000-mile cross-country journey. The tree is decorated with thousands of ornaments that have been handcrafted by people from across Minnesota and was lit by Aaron Urban – a 10-year-old boy from Maryland who is battling brain cancer. This year, Make-A-Wish will be granting Aaron’s wish to spend Christmas in New York City, with today’s lighting ceremony serving as a lead up to that experience.

“This tree will light up children’s eyes and make all of the busy people who work in the Capitol stop – even just for a moment – and look up in wonder,” Klobuchar said. “That is the magic of Christmas, and Minnesota is making it happen. This tree is a fitting representation of the natural beauty, hard work, talent, and sense of community that make our state so special.”

The ceremony was free and open to members of the public. Over 100 members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe traveled by bus from Minnesota to Washington, D.C. to attend the tree lighting and other events surrounding the ceremony. They will be taking tours of the Capitol, attending receptions honoring the tree, and hosting a drum and dance ceremony in front of the tree later this week. 

In October, Klobuchar spoke at the Capitol Christmas Tree cutting ceremony in the Chippewa National Forest. The tree was cut down by Jim Scheff, who is the owner of the Minnesota-based company Scheff Logging and Trucking and who was recently named Minnesota “Logger of the Year.”

The tree will be lit every night from dusk until 11:00pm through January 1, 2015.

 

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