MEDIA ADVISORY
WHO:North Carolina Division of Forest Resources and U.S. Forest Service
WHAT: Lights U.S. Capitol Tree
WHEN: Tuesday, December 8, 1998, 5:00 P.M.
WHERE: West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
RALEIGH -- The 1998 Capitol Holiday Tree will be lit 5 p.m. December 8 on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
The 50-foot Fraser fir from Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina is decorated with 5,000 lights and 4,000 ornaments. The ornaments, all are made from natural resources and recycled materials, were collected from community organizations and school children throughout North Carolina. North Carolina's First Lady Carolyn Hunt spearheaded the effort to collect the decorations.
It has been 25 years since North Carolina provided the tree to the U.S. Capitol. The 1998 tree is only the second tree from North Carolina to stand on the Capitol lawn.
The formal lighting of the Capitol Holiday Tree will occur at 5:00 p.m. The 30-minute ceremony will include brief remarks from the Capitol architect and several members of the North Carolina congressional delegation. Representing North Carolina at the ceremony will be Henry Lancaster, deputy secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The New Day Singers will provide entertainment and House Speaker Newt Gingrich will perform the lighting honors.
Additional Information is available by contacting Capitol Christmas Tree headquarters at (202) 205-1450.
# # #
Date Posted: 12/4/98
Return to Press Release Page.