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Capitol Christmas Tree November 12, 2009
The 2009 Capitol Christmas Tree touched down in Payson briefly Tuesday night on its cross country journey to Washington D.C. Some 500 residents turned out to catch a glimpse of the 64-foot blue spruce from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. This is the first time a Capitol tree has come from Arizona since 1970, when the tradition of giving a Christmas tree, known as the “People’s Tree,” to Congress began. Last year, a 73-foot subalpine fir from Bitterroot National Forest in Montana was selected. In celebration of the tree and his upcoming retirement in January, Jim Payne, Arizona issues management/regional media officer with the Forest Service, grew out his beard, giving himself an uncanny resemblance to Santa Clause. Payne is an official escort for the tree and will stay with it on its 3,000 mile, three-week tour.
Mary McMullen doesn't need a ladder for this little signing in ceremony. The National Christmas Tree made its stop in Payson, Tuesday, Nov. 9 at the junction of Hwy's 87 and 260.
As usual, Santa and Mrs. Claus were surrounded by children and members of the media during this surprise visit.
Getting a little help from Tom Barker, Zachary Clark signs his name on the tarp covering the Tree. A festive atmosphere was decidedly present on Longhorn Rd, between Walgreen's and Chapman Auto, as many families, dignataries, media and vendors crowded the area and waited for the small ceremony to begin.
Santa knows how to present a positive face to every situation and having an historic moment breeze through town was a prefect occassion to accentuate the coming Christmas season. Cameraman Nolan Tornquist of Channel 3 in Phoenix, got his close up of the moment before loooking for more and other opportunities.
Mayor Kenny Evans, left, and Richard Davalos, Capitol Christmas Tree 2009 Coordinator, discuss the history of this particular tree before the formal ceremony begins.
C.J. Adcock, behind, and Randy Adcock, reach as high as they could and afix their names to the tree covering tarp before there aren't any places left to sign.
Looking like a Santa's helper, Bailey Richey leans over the rail as this photographer pops a quick shot of her engaging features, as she waits in line to express her Christmas wishes to Santa Claus.
Leona Bowhan gets a quick kiss for Bougie as she waits patiently for the tree program to begin.
Waiting for the show to begin a crowd four people deep stands in the fading sunlight and surrounds the temporary stage.
Council member John Wilson didn't happen to have a baseball style cap that said Payson on it, so... he got to wear the Santa deeley-boppers. Lucky guy, those are Kuule.
Richard Davalos, Capitol Christmas Tree 2009 Coordinator, takes the stage and explains how the tree was selected, where it is going and why it is covered up, to the large crowd in the middle of Longhorn Rd. Tuesday, Nov. 9.
20 fourth graders from Payson Elementary School took time after school to construct five ornaments that were shaped in the form of elements representative of Arizona that will be placed on the tree once it reaches Washington, D.C. They were honored with certificates of appreciation at the tree ceremony.
Getting an advance peek inside, one can see the top of the 85 foot Ponderosa Pine selected to be displayed in Washington, D.C. as the nation's Christmas Tree this year. The tree was originally 85' tall and was 70 years old at the time of its removal from the forest. Due to height considerations, the tree needed to be trimmed down to 65'.
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