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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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Hardy Brothers Trucking to Haul 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

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Hardy Brothers Trucking Company will help spread hope and joy to the nation this holiday as they transport the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from the National Forests in North Carolina to Washington, D.C.

Hardy Brothers Trucking was selected as the hauler for this year’s tree at the recommendation of Kenworth Truck Company and based on industry reputation, according to Bruce Ward, president of Choose Outdoors. This non-profit partner assists the USDA Forest Service in coordinating the annual public engagement initiative. The Tree will be harvested from the National Forests in North Carolina in early November, followed by a journey with special events in communities along the way before being delivered to Washington, D.C. Hardy Brothers also will deliver thousands of handmade ornaments made by North Carolinians along with smaller trees for offices in the nation’s capital.  

In 1965, Ralph Hardy bought his first truck and began hauling produce throughout the East Coast. Since then, Hardy Brothers Trucking has grown to over 100 dedicated drivers and 55 trucks pulling refrigerated trailers and hauling freight from coast to coast. Fifty-seven years in, the business remains a family affair. Hardy continues to work daily in the office, while Ralph’s son, Eddie, runs the day-to-day operations as president, and Eddie’s son, Ryan, serves as vice president. They’re the recipient of industry awards such as the Safety Achievement Award with Fleet Solutions LTD and the PVH Truckload Carrier of the Year Award and have been an EPA SmartWay member since 2008.

Doing the honors of delivering the Tree for Hardy Brothers will be the husband-and-wife team Harold “Ed” Kingdon Jr. and Deborah Z. Kingdon. They have been married for 42 years and have been driving for Hardy Brothers Inc. since 2018. Ed is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force/ Air National Guard, where he served 37 years. Ed worked his way through the ranks and was commissioned in 1988, retiring with the rank of Colonel. Deborah was the chief home officer, primarily focused on raising their four children, including homeschooling them from 1986 to 2008.

“For us to be part of the tradition of bringing the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is quite the honor,” said Eddie Hardy, President, of Hardy Brothers Trucking. “Our pride in the State of North Carolina shines throughout our fleet, and we’re excited to share the experience and uplifting communities along the way.”

Kenworth Truck Company returns for the ninth year as a major sponsor of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree program. A specially decaled Kenworth T680 Next Generation equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the PACCAR Powertrain will transport the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

In addition to presenting sponsor 84 Lumber, additional partners supporting the 2022 journey include Hale Trailer, North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Dover Crane, Western North Carolina Agriculture Center, Society of American Foresters, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Truckload Carriers Association, AHF Products, Bruce, Hartco and Robbins, FIND Outdoors, Nantahala Outdoor Center, LexisNexis VitalChek Network, Inc., Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Cultivated Cocktails, Berg Co, and Vesmir.

Announcing the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour

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2021 US Capitol Christmas Tree tour

Each year, a different national forest provides a tree to light up the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for the holiday season. The Six Rivers National Forest in partnership with nonprofit partner Choose Outdoors will bring this special gift from California to Washington, D.C. for the 2021 holiday season with a series of special events in communities along the way.

Festivities will be hosted by local communities at parks and plazas, schools, memorials and monuments, stadiums, main streets and even a parade. Well-wishers will have a chance to sign the banners on the sides of the truck, learn more about the Six Rivers National Forest, purchase U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree merchandise and more. Beginning Oct.29, 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:

Friday, Oct. 29
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Del Norte Visitor Center (1001 Front Street, Crescent City, CA 95531)
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Eureka Waterfront (Madaket Square Boardwalk, D Street, Eureka, CA 95501)

Saturday, Oct. 30
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Willow Creek Mainstreet (CA Hwy-299, Willow Creek, CA 95573)
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Fortuna River Lodge (1800 Riverwalk Drive, Fortuna, CA 955340)

Sunday, Oct. 31 
12:00 – 3:00 p.m. Pear Tree Shopping Center (504 East Perkins St, Ukiah, CA, 95540)

Monday, Nov. 1
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Vallejo Waterfront Ferry Stop (289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo, CA 94590)

Tuesday, Nov. 2
3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Dixon May Fair (655 South 1st Street, Dixon, CA 95620)

Wednesday, Nov. 3
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. California State Capitol (1010 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814)
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Mother Lode Fairgrounds (220 Southgate Rd, Sonora, CA 95370)

Thursday, Nov. 4
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Downtown Mariposa (Hwy 140 between 9th and 10th Street, Mariposa, CA 95338)

Saturday, Nov. 6
8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Rose Bowl Stadium (1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103)
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Redlands West Pearl Avenue (between Eureka and Orange Streets Redlands, CA 92374)

Tuesday, Nov. 9
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Petrified Forest National Park (1 Park Road, Petrified Forest, AZ 86028)

Thursday, Nov. 11
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. New Mexico Veteran’s Memorial (1100 Louisiana Blvd SE #5009, Albuquerque, NM 87108)

Saturday, Nov. 13
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Downtown Fayetteville (Northwest Avenue & West Dickson Street, Fayetteville, AR 72701)
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters (1935 S Campbell Ave., Springfield, MO 65807

Tuesday, Nov. 16:
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Williamsport Town Hall, 2 N Conococheague St., Williamsport, MD 21795

Friday, Nov. 19
Delivery to West Lawn, U.S. Capitol Building

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

Safety of tour staff, event attendees and the tree are the top priority. Face coverings are required for all events and social distancing will be maintained. Along the way, we ask the public to be aware of the large truck’s huge blind spots, wide turns, and longer stopping distances on our roads so we can all arrive safely to our destinations.

Follow along online at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com and @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram.