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National Forests in North Carolina

Catcuce Micco Tiger selected as Youth Tree Lighter

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Coche Tiger

When Ruby, the Red Spruce from the Pisgah National Forest, is lit on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol this holiday, 4th grader Catcuce Micco Tiger (Coche) will do the honors. 

Catcuce Micco Tiger (Coche) is the son of Katie and Catcuce Tiger. He is nine years old and is a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), located in Cherokee, NC. He has a six-year-old brother named Sha-li-gu-gi, which means snapping turtle in Cherokee.

Coche also has ancestry from the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He gets his name from his dad, which is a Seminole name. Catcuce means ‘Little Tiger’, Micco means ‘Leader/Chief’ in the Creek language.

Coche attends New Kituwah Academy language immersion school, where he learns to read, write and speak the Cherokee language. He is in the 4th grade, and his favorite subjects are Cherokee, Math, and Science. Coche enjoys playing baseball, soccer, fishing, and playing outside. He also enjoys participating in his traditional Cherokee ceremonies.
 
Coche decided he wanted to apply to be the Youth Christmas Tree Lighter after discussing it in his class at New Kituwah Academy. The application process included a question about the environment and his Cherokee culture.

Why is the environment important to Cherokee culture?
Cherokee culture is very important to me. I attend New Kituwah Academy, where I am learning to read, write and speak the Cherokee language. I am also a member of the Raven Rock stomp grounds in the Big Cove community. I love stomp dance because it is what our ancestors once did to pray and show appreciation for everything we have. We go to stomp to help renew ourselves and help the earth renew herself. So, we need a clean and healthy environment to honor what the creator has given us.

Our environment is so important because my ancestors lived on this land, and I want to take care of it like they did. Also, the animals live in the environment, and I want to take care of them because they are related to me.

Why do you want to be the youth tree lighter?
I want to go to Washington, D.C. to light the tree so I can represent the Tribe and my community and so everyone can have a good year. I also want to see where the president lives and maybe meet him.

Coche will share his Cherokee introduction and the following story during various events in North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

ᏏᏲ  ᏂᎦᏓ, ᎣᏣᎵᎮᎵᎭ  ᏥᏤᏙᎭ. ᎧᏥ  ᏓᏆᏙᎠ ᏃᎴ  ᏥᎩᏚᏩᎩ  ᏃᎴ  ᏐᏁᎳ  ᎢᏯᏆᏕᏘᏴᏓ. ᏅᎩᏁᎢ  ᏫᏥᏯ ᎠᏤ ᎩᏚᏩ  ᏗᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ.  ᎦᏯᎴᏂ  ᎠᏆᏛᏒ. ᏥᏍᏉᎯ  ᏗᏇᏅᏒᎢ. ᏗᎬᎩᎦᏴᎵ  ᎨᏗ  ᏃᎴ  ᏨᏓᏥ  ᏚᎾᏙᎠ. ᏦᏍᏓᏢᏅᏥ  ᏌᎵᎫᎩ  ᏚᏙᎠ.

Hello everyone, I am glad we all are here. My name is Catcuce, I am a gi-du-wa person, and I am nine years old. I am in the 4th grade at New Kituwah Academy.  I am from North Carolina. My home is in Birdtown (Tsi-sgwo-hi) community. My parents’ names are Katie and Catcuce. My brother’s name is Sha-li-gu-gi.

The Cherokee Legend of the Evergreen Trees

The forest contains two types of trees: evergreen, which keep their leaves and remain green all year, and deciduous, which lose their leaves in autumn. Cherokees explain how this came to be:

When all the trees, plants, and animals were created, they were asked to stay awake to fast and pray for seven nights to honor the Creator. The first night they all stayed awake, but the second night some fell asleep; the third night more dropped out, and so on. By the seventh night, only a few were still awake. Of the animals, the owl (u-gu-gu), the panther (tsv-da-tsi), and a few others were still awake. These animals were given the power to see and go about in the dark and make prey of the birds and animals that must sleep at night. Of the trees, only the cedar, the pine, the spruce, the holly, the hemlock, and the laurel were awake to the end. The Creator gave these trees the ability to keep their leaves and stay green all year round and gave them special power to be medicine for the Cherokee people. Therefore, these trees are sacred and used for medicine by the Cherokee people to this day.  (This is an abbreviated version that will be expanded for the actual reading during events.)

 

 

84 Lumber Donates $10,000 to MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, NC

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84 Lumber Donates $10,000 to MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, NC

Eighty Four, PA (September 29, 2022) – 84 Lumber, the nation’s largest privately held building materials supplier, has donated $10,000 to the Asheville-based MANNA FoodBank to shine a spotlight on Hunger Awareness Month. As the presenting sponsor of the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree, harvested from nearby Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, 84 Lumber has delivered an early Christmas gift to MANNA FoodBank, located in Asheville, North Carolina.

Every year since 1964, a different national forest has been selected to provide a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. The name ‘People’s Tree’ reflects the nickname for the U.S. House of Representatives, the People’s House. The 2022 tree will come from the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville, and 84 Lumber will be among those tracking the tree’s journey from North Carolina to Washington, D.C.

On September 29th, 84 Lumber Asheville Store Manager, Ryan Adair presented the MANNA FoodBank with a $10,000 check just in time for the holiday season. “As a presenting sponsor of the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, 84 Lumber is honored to bring an early Christmas gift to the Asheville community,” said Ryan Adair. “We are excited that this donation will serve many people right here in our neighborhood, especially around the holiday season.”

MANNA FoodBank is a private, not-for-profit service organization working to end food insecurity in the 16 counties of Western North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary. MANNA links the food industry to over 200 partner pantries and other human service organizations to get food to thousands of families’ tables. MANNA is an acronym and stands for Mountain Area Nutritional Needs Alliance and is a member of Feeding America [feedingamerica.org], the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. 

Officials with MANNA say this time of year is a particularly tough time for families struggling to get by. “This is the time of year where most nonprofits see an increase in needs for local families and we are grateful for partners like 84 Lumber,” said Olivia Onderlinde, Corporate Engagement Manager at MANNA FoodBank. “This generous gift will provide 40,000 meals ahead of holiday need.”

For related news, events, and tour information, and to track the tree on the journey to D.C., visit www.uscapitolchristmastree.com.  To learn more about 84 Lumber, visit www.84lumber.com.

(Photo from left to right: Lorie Lewis Stroup, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service; Ryan Adair, Store Manager, 84 Lumber; Olivia Onderlinde, Corporate Engagement Manager, MANNA FoodBank; Cathy Dowd, Public Affairs Officer, Forest Service, National Forests in North Carolina; Judy Dinelle, Building Ambassador, 84 Lumber)

2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour from North Carolina to Washington, D.C. Nov. 5-18

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US Capitol Christmas Tree 2022 - RGB - WIDER

Asheville, NC August 22, 2022 – The National Forests in North Carolina and nonprofit partner Choose Outdoors, along with presenting sponsor 84 Lumber, have announced the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree tour dates. The tree’s journey from the Pisgah National Forest to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building will kick off on Saturday, November 5, and, over the course of two weeks, make 14 stops in local communities from the mountains to the sea across North Carolina, plus two stops in Virginia.

Local communities will welcome the 78-foot tall Red Spruce at parks, plazas, schools, memorials, main streets, and more. Well-wishers will have a chance to sign the banners on the truck’s sides, learn more about their national forests, shop for U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree merchandise, and more. Beginning Nov. 5, the tree’s journey can be tracked in real-time online at capitoltreetracker.com, hosted by Spireon, Inc. Festivities are free and open to the public for all to enjoy. The schedule of events includes:

Saturday, Nov. 5
3:00­ – 5:00 p.m. Western North Carolina Agricultural Center (9237, 761 Boylston Hwy, Fletcher, NC 28732)

Sunday, Nov. 6
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Cherokee County Courthouse (75 Peachtree St, Murphy, NC 28906)
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Oconaluftee Island Park Event Site (181 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee, NC 28719)

Monday, Nov. 7
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pisgah Forest Ranger Station & Visitor Center (1600 Pisgah Hwy, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Marion Main Street (Between Court Street and Fort Street, Marion, NC 28752)

Tuesday, Nov. 8
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Avery County Cooperative Extension Center (661 Vale Rd, Newland, NC 28657)
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Watauga High School (300 Go Pioneers Dr, Boone, NC 28607)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Downtown Newton (33 East A Street, Newton, NC 28658)

Wednesday, Nov. 9
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Veteran’s Memorial Park (691 W. Lebanon St. Mount Airy, NC 27030)
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Troy Town Hall (315 N Main St, Troy, NC 27371)

Thursday, Nov. 10
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. North Carolina Zoo (4401 Zoo Pkwy, Asheboro, NC 27205)

Friday, Nov. 11
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. North Carolina Veteran’s Home (2150 Hull Rd, Kinston, NC 28504)

Saturday, Nov. 12
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Union Point Park (210 E Front St, New Bern, NC 28560)

Sunday, Nov. 13
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (1500 Fort Raleigh Road, Manteo, NC 27954)

Monday, Nov. 14
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Suffolk Visitors Center (524 North Main St, Suffolk, VA 23434)

Wednesday, Nov. 16
84 Lumber, North Chesterfield, VA (Details to be announced)

Thursday, Nov. 17
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Joint Base Andrews (Base only)

Friday, Nov. 18
Delivery to West Lawn, U.S. Capitol Building

*Subject to change. Monitor the website at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com/calendar for updates.

The tree’s journey is possible with the generous support of presenting sponsor 84 Lumber, along with Kenworth Truck Company, Hardy Brothers Trucking, Hale Trailer, Spireon, Inc., North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Dover Crane, Verizon, Western North Carolina Agriculture Center, Society of American Foresters, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Truckload Carriers Association, AHF Products, Bruce ®, Armstrong ® and Robbins ® Flooring, Pilot Flying J, FIND Outdoors, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Bartlett Tree Company, National Forest Foundation, LexisNexis VitalChek Network, Inc., Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Cultivated Cocktails, and Vesmir.

The top priority is the safety of tour staff, event attendees, and the tree; local public health guidelines will be followed. We ask the public to be aware of the large truck’s substantial blind spots, wide turns, and longer stopping distances on our roads so we can all arrive safely.

Follow along online at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com and @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram.
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National Forests in North Carolina selected to provide 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

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2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Logo

2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree LogoASHEVILLE, NC (February 3, 2022) – You probably took down your Christmas tree but don’t lose your Christmas spirit just yet. The National Forests in North Carolina has been selected to provide the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and with the theme of “From the Mountains to the Sea,” is kicking off a year-long celebration to connect people to North Carolina’s public lands.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree—also known as “The People’s Tree” reflecting the nickname for the U.S. House
of Representatives, the People’s House—adorns the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and is selected each year from a
different national forest. This is the third time the National Forests in North Carolina will provide the tree, having previously provided the tree in 1998 and 1974.

“We know the best Christmas trees grow in North Carolina, and we’re grateful to be home to four national forests that showcase our state’s natural beauty,” said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “Having the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree selected from our state is an honor and emphasizes our responsibility to maintain and protect our public lands so future generations can enjoy all that our state has to offer.”

“North Carolina’s natural beauty is second-to-none, and its Christmas tree farms draw families from around the region each year,” said Senator Burr. “It is an honor that North Carolina was once again selected to provide this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas tree. I am pleased that the beauty of our state’s National Forest will be displayed for all who visit the U.S. Capitol next holiday season.”

The National Forests in North Carolina has partnered with the non-profit Choose Outdoors to implement the year-long celebration which includes a conservation education campaign and a journey that takes the tree from North Carolina to Washington, DC. The initiative is made possible with cash and in-kind contributions from companies large and small as well as volunteers locally and across America, who provide vital support of time and resources.

“The annual journey is only possible with the help of strong partnerships throughout North Carolina and beyond state lines,” said Bruce Ward, president of Choose Outdoors. “We’re looking forward to bringing people together to celebrate our public lands and the joy of the holiday season.”

“Our theme of ‘From the Mountains to the Sea’ represents the incredible diversity of North Carolina’s natural and cultural heritage,” said James Melonas, Forest Supervisor of the National Forests in North Carolina. “Our history is just as diverse and deeply rooted—we are the birthplace of scientific forestry in America, the home of the first tract of land purchased to create the National Forests in the eastern U.S., and within one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world.”

The National Forests in North Carolina are comprised of four forests, the Nantahala, Pisgah, Uwharrie, and Croatan. With approximately 6.5 million visitors a year, these are among the most visited national forests in the country.

Every year since 1970, the USDA Forest Service has provided the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The 2022 holiday season will kick off with the lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol following the Thanksgiving holiday.

To follow the exciting journey of the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree—and to be a part of the festivities over the next year—visit www.uscapitolchristmastree.com, @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram, or the National Forests in North Carolina website, www.facebook.com/nfsnc, or @NFsNCarolina on Twitter.

For information about the history of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, visit the Architect of the Capitol’s website.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Bruce Ward, president of Choose Outdoors.