Capitol Christmas Tree cut down in New Mexico, stops in El Paso, on its way to D.C.
EL PASO, Texas -- "The People’s Tree" is on its merry way. The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is already being taken to Washington D.C.
The 68-year-old New Mexico blue spruce was cut down in the Carson National Forest and it’s going to take two weeks before it reaches D.C.
It was a lot to take in for those who got to see it.
“I didn’t realize how tall it was going to be, 60 feet they said and over 9,000 pounds. I just thought that was amazing," said Priscilla Avila, who took her two children to see the tree in El Paso on Friday evening.
The tree itself isn’t the only massive thing involved. The effort by New Mexicans to make their mark in D.C. this Christmas is just as admirable.
“The people of New Mexico made over 11,000 ornaments to adorn this US Capitol Christmas tree and they’re all relevant to our culture, and New Mexico themed ornaments,” said Ivan Knudsen, with the USDA Forest Service.
Keeping this giant thing alive is not easy.
“After they cut it down they tied the branches down, which we don’t do at home, but they tied the branches down so it would fit in the trailer, and then they put a huge bladder around the trunk and sealed it so that they can keep it full of water the whole time," Knudsen said.
The next Texas stop will be in San Antonio on Saturday.
