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TALKING TCA
On the road with the
2023 Capitol Christmas Tree
Every year, a different national forest is selected to provide a tree to appear on the West Lawn of
the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. For 2023, West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest,
provided a 63-foot Norway Spruce. The Shawnee tribe, which had the honor of naming this
year’s evergreen, dubbed the tree wa’feem’tekwi, or “bright tree.” After harvesting, the tree made
more than a dozen “whistle stops” along its tour before being placed on the West Lawn of the
U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., November 17. Since 2012, the Truckload Carriers Association
(TCA) has proudly sponsored the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. On November 15,
TCA hosted the evergreen’s tour stop in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
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1. The 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia on November 1. 2. After harvesting the 63-foot Norway Spruce,
members of the U.S. National Forest Service spent three days preparing the tree for its journey to Washington, D.C. 3. Ethan Reese, a fourth grader from Beverly Elementary
School in West Virginia, was the winner of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest. 4. Along the tree’s journey, visitors at the various tour stops had a chance to sign
a banner displayed on the side of the trailer carrying the tree. 5. The tree’s tour kicked off November 4 in Elkins, West Virginia. 6. The tractor-trailer transporting the U.S. Capitol
Christmas Tree, piloted by drivers from Werner Enterprises, was greeted by throngs of visitors. Tour stops featured educational opportunities, activities for children, and more.
36 Truckload Authority | www.Truckload.org TCA JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024