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An Idaho Mountain Gem |
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November 16, 2016 |
Idaho is blessed with beautiful mountains
and immense forests.
In the winter the mountains and forests are
covered with snow,
making the landscape look like never ending
clouds with skyscrapers covered in snow.
Big tall trees.
Beautiful to look at.
Amazing to see.
Pristine mountains.
As I sit in the forest I find peace.
As the wind blows through the tall ponderosa
pines I feel a sense of solitude and
peacefulness.
To someone that has never been in an Idaho
forest, it is hard to understand the size and
beauty.
If only you could be here looking at these
beautiful Idaho scenes. |
By U.S. Senator Mike Crapo
Idaho fifth grader Isabella Gerard submitted
this poem, titled “Pristine Idaho Mountains,”
which was selected at random from more than 200
entries from students across Idaho. As the
contest winner, Isabella will be flown to
Washington, D.C. to join House Speaker Paul Ryan
and me to push the button to light the national
tree.
Isabella’s poem captures the wonder of Idaho’s
natural beauty and serenity and is a fitting
accompaniment to this year’s U.S. Capitol
Christmas Tree from Idaho’s Payette National
Forest.
The theme for this year’s Christmas tree is, “An
Idaho Mountain Gem,” which was also the theme of
the entries submitted by Idaho students. The
tree is traveling to Washington, D.C. and being
placed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The
tree is stopping in various Idaho communities,
including McCall, Cascade, Horseshoe Bend,
Boise, Weiser, Council, New Meadows,
Grangeville, Lapwai, Moscow, Coeur d’Alene,
Salmon, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls, along its
route to our nation’s capital.
A complete list of Idaho and nationwide stops
and times can be found on the website for the
2016 Capitol Christmas Tree at:
www.capitolchristmastree.com.
The Capitol Christmas Tree’s website also
includes a history of the tradition of the tree
that explains that a Christmas tree has been
displayed on the Capitol lawn since “1964 when
then-Speaker of the U.S. House of
Representatives John W. McCormack (D-MA) placed
a live Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn. This
tree lived three years before succumbing to wind
and root damage. In 1970, the Capitol Architect
asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide a
Christmas tree. Since then, a different national
forest has been chosen each year to provide ‘The
People’s Tree.’”
This year’s tree is the second from Idaho. An
Engelmann Spruce was sent from the Boise
National Forest in 2003. The U.S. Capitol
Christmas Tree is organized by Choose Outdoors,
a national nonprofit that assists the U.S.
Forest Service by developing partnerships and
coordinating events throughout the year
culminating with the tree’s illuminating in
December.
This year’s sponsors of the Capitol Christmas
Tree include several Idaho companies. No
taxpayer funds are used to fly the winner to
Washington.
The tree will be lit the week of December 5,
2016. Tradition holds that one youth from the
state providing the tree serve as a Tree
Lighting Helper during the ceremony to
illuminate it formally. Idahoans handmade the
tree’s decorations.
It has been an honor for me and the rest of the
Idaho congressional delegation, Senator Jim
Risch and Congressmen Mike Simpson and Raúl
Labrador, to work on this showcase opportunity
for Idaho’s natural resources.
Thank you to the many Idahoans, including all
the students who submitted contest entries, for
making it possible for these symbols of Idaho’s
graciousness, sensibility and strength to enrich
our nation’s capital during the Christmas
season. |
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