Preparations are underway for the Capitol Christmas Tree tour across America, and one Amramp franchise is ramping up for a big role in this year’s upcoming tour. Every year since 1970, a different U.S. state has been chosen to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree that will be placed on the Western lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., to be decorated in shining lights for all to see during the holidays.
This year, the special tree has a long way to travel: The chosen state is on the opposite coast, California. As is customary, the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree will stop to visit different cities as it makes its long trek across the country. By providing ADA-compliant ramps, Amramp is proud to ensure that everyone of all abilities can participate in this national tradition.
The Los Angeles Amramp franchise has been contracted to provide two ramps and platforms, which will be set up at every stop on the trip in front of the huge tree. At each Capital Tree event across the country, attendees will use the Amramp ramps to access and exit the platform alongside the tree. The tradition calls for each person place a note or an ornament on the tree.
The tree will be cut on Nov. 5, and the tour is scheduled to start on Nov. 8. The Capitol Tree Celebration began in 1964, with a Douglas Fir that was actually planted in the grounds at the Capitol Building. The tree suffered root system damage during a storm in 1967, and it died. For the next couple of years, trees were brought in from Maryland; then, the decision was made to bring in a new tree from a different state each year, which would be viewed as a “gift” from that state. The United States Forestry Division carefully chooses candidates from a national forest within the state, and the Architect of the Capitol then picks the “winner” from the group.
The selected state traditionally holds handmade ornament and song contests, and a child is chosen from that state to light the tree along with the Speaker of the House. 2011’s slogan is “California Shines!”
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