The 73-foot Engelmann Spruce Christmas tree that will be illuminated outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. this Christmas season has begun its 24-day journey from the White River National Forest in Colorado to the nation’s capital.
The tree’s journey, which is under the supervision of the U.S. Forest Service, began Friday, November 2 and will arrive in Washington, D.C. on November 26. The tree will be decorated with 5,000 ornaments made by Colorado school children.
The Diesel Technology Forum is a “Forester Sponsor” of the 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree tour and will provide daily Twitter and Facebook updates on its expedition across the country on a SmartWay-certified, custom-decorated MACK Pinnacle Axle Back model sleeper clean diesel truck.
Capitol Christmas Tree Expedition A Showcase of Clean Diesel Technology
“The Mack truck transporting the tree across the country is a showcase of clean diesel technology - one of the many pieces of modern diesel technology that is transporting ‘The People's Tree’ from Colorado to our nation’s capital,” says Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
"At the beginning it was a diesel-powered crane that placed the tree on the clean diesel truck that will transport it across the country using ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. It’s fitting that clean diesel technology has a major role in this holiday project as it does in the daily lives of all Americans. In addition, diesel-powered backup generators will provide power for the various ceremonies in communities along the journey designed to help celebrate this national event.
"The emissions from this Mack truck are near zero thanks to its advanced clean diesel engine and new emissions control technology,” Schaeffer says.
He added that the nationwide availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel gives the U.S. Forest Service great flexibility in choosing its routes across the country, compared with the limited availability of other fuel sources.
Upcoming Events for U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour
The following is an overview of upcoming events being planned in connection with the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour in Colorado and across the country to Washington, D.C.:
- November 6 – Rangely-Steamboat Springs, CO
- November 7 – Dillon – Glenwood Springs, CO
- November 8 – Grand Junction – Montrose, CO
- November 9 – Cortez – Durango, CO
- November 10 – Pagosa – Alamosa, CO
- November 11 – Colorado Springs – Denver, CO
- November 12 – Greeley – LaJunta, CO
- November 13 – Albuquerque, NM
- November 14 – Amarillo, TX
- November 15 – Dallas, TX
- November 16 – Oklahoma City, OK
- November 17 – Independence (Kansas City), MO
- November 18 – St. Louis, MO
- November 19 – Nashville, TN
- November 20 – Atlanta, GA
- November 21 – Asheville, NC
- November 22 – Concord, NC
- November 23 – Staunton, VA
- November 24 – Allentown, PA – Milford, PA
- November 25 – Andrews AFB
- November 26 – U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C.
