National Christmas Tree moves through Peoria, Glendale

Janice Huff waited in line with her mother, Shirley Barnes, as they caught a glimpse of the Christmas tree that will be viewed by millions of people this holiday season in Washington D.C.

Barnes, a Sun City West resident, couldn’t be happier that a pine from Arizona was chosen as the official tree.

“It’s a huge honor for us and a lot of recognition,” Barnes said.

Hundreds of residents showed up Thursday at Rio Vista Park in Peoria and Murphy Park in Glendale to view the National Christmas Tree, which was first selected in the state from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Central Arizona.

The tree was on display as a part of a 28-city stopa, before it reaches Washington on Nov. 30 for the official Dec. 3 lighting ceremony on the Elipse in front of the White House.

People had the opportunity to view the tree and sign their names on the truck that’s carrying it across the country.

Peoria Councilman Ron Aames, who attended the event at Rio Vista Park, said he’s pleased that Arizona had been selected to give the official tree to the nation's capital.

“It’s history in the making and will hopefully give us a little more exposure,” Aames said.

Rick Davalos, coordinator of the National Christmas Tree project, said the 9,000-pound, 65-foot tree that’s 7  stories tall was cut on Nov. 7.

The tree had been chosen by the United States Forest Service. Davalos said Arizona is the 28th state to have a Christmas tree serve as the national tree since the 1960s.

“There is so much excitement in the air about it,” Davalos said.

In November 1923, First Lady Grace Coolidge gave permission for the District of Columbia Public Schools to erect a Christmas tree on the Ellipse south of the White House, which organizers named the “National Christmas Tree.”

Davalos said a number of steps have been taken to ensure the safety of the Christmas tree that’s been placed in a truck with a mist system and a rubber boot that holds a 100 gallons of water. Officials said they want to make sure the tree remains moist and fresh.

In addition, workers cut approximately 80 smaller companion trees from other Arizona forests that will be placed in federal offices in Washington. All of the trees, including the National Tree, are expected to have 10,000 decorations total from children in the state.

“This is a packaged deal all the way around,” Davalos said.
Ann Marie Corriveau, a teacher at Landmark Pre-School in Glendale, heard about the tree being on display at Murphy Park and decided to bring her students.

They made Christmas tree hats in honor of the event.
“We talked about the tree, how big it was and the importance of it to Arizona,” she said. “This truly is an honor, and I wanted them to see this up close.”

Mary Beth Garrett of Surprise was driving through Glendale when her husband called and told her the tree was at Murphy Park. So she and their sons Wylie, 8, and Wynn, 4, made a surprise stop in downtown Glendale to view the pine.

Garrett said it was an honor to see the tree. Her grandfather helped cut down a National Tree in Michigan, so this moment had been extra special.

“To see two national trees is just amazing,” Garrett said.

Linda and Dennis Chase of Peoria signed their names on the National Christmas Tree truck at Rio Vista Park.
The couple said the tree puts them iin a holiday mood.
“I think we’re in a Christmas mood now than we are when we’re inside a store with all of the holiday decorations and commercialism,” Dennis Chase said.

More than anything, Linda Chase said she thinks people will be surprised such a large tree came from Arizona.

“People don’t think of pine trees coming from Arizona,” she said with a laugh. “They probably think there is a big cactus in this truck.”