Sisters represented for cutting of national 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 Christmas season.

The 2018 United States Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from the Willamette National Forest in Sweet Home last Friday, November 2. That perfect tree from Oregon was chosen in August from a handful of finalists by the architect for the Capitol.

It's the first time in the 47-year history of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Program that a noble fir has been selected and the second time the tree has come from Oregon. A 70-foot Douglas fir from Umpqua National Forest was chosen in 2002.

Only 50 lucky people were able to watch the 2018 Capitol Christmas Tree cutting event up close from the Sweet Home Ranger District on Friday morning. Jeri Buckmann, Visitor Center manager and events director for Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce represented Sisters and was excited to witness the cutting of the beautiful 82-foot fir tree.

"When the tree was cut, it was a sense of pride for Oregon. It made you realize how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful state," Buckmann said. "I felt incredibly honored to be there for Sisters. I was thanked more times than I can remember for being there. People were happy, and it was about this moment in time where Oregon will be part of the Christmas tradition in Washington, D.C."

Buckmann was thrilled to receive a branch from the tree as a souvenir.

The holiday tree represents the hope, goodwill and spirit of the people of the United States.

Tracy Beck, forest supervisor with Willamette National Forest, counted 26 rings on one of the souvenir rounds taken eight feet up the tree and estimated the noble to be about 35 years old.

"The amount of time and planning to put this together was incredible," Buckmann said. "A shout-out to the Sweet Home Tree Committee and the hundreds of others to make this memorable moment."

Spectators watched through the rainfall as crews cut down the tree.

Jonah Gladney, firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service, took time out from leading a crew of wildland firefighters on a prescribed burn in Detroit to harvest the tall noble fir. The tree was supported with two slings from a crane as it was cut, to prevent it from falling and its branches from breaking. The crane and supporting equipment were provided by Papé and Axis Crane, a main sponsor of the event.

After the tree was cut it made its way down eight miles of gravel road on a new Kenworth W990 truck, provided by Central Oregon Truck Company (COTC) of Redmond, to Highway 20, then to Sweet Home.

Nikki Swanson, district ranger for the Sweet Home Ranger District noted, "The architect at the capitol office chose a tree that wasn't that easy to get to. This was by far the most beautiful tree in the forest. Cascade Timber consulting made it possible to be able to access the tree with their roadwork."

The tree will be wrapped and prepared for the long journey east on Friday, November 9, when it departs from Sweet Home and begins its 3,000-mile road trip through Oregon and across the country to Washington, D.C.

The theme for this year's tree-cutting event is "Find Your Trail," in recognition of two special anniversaries in 2018: the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act and the 175th commemoration of the Oregon Trail.

The Capitol Tree will travel the Oregon trail in reverse, stopping at communities along the way to Washington D.C., where there will be an official tree lighting in early December.

Oregon also provided 70 smaller trees to decorate government buildings and other public spaces. Oregonians made 10,000 crafted ornaments and 80 quilted tree skirts. Fifteen of the tree skirts were quilted by East of the Cascade Quilters in Sisters.

The tree will make 11 stops around Oregon before heading east, including one in Bend on Monday, November 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 450 SW Powerhouse Dr. in the Old Mill District.

After the tree leaves Bend on Monday it will be heading through Sisters.