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Governor Gregoire and First Mike to Kick-Off Washington Tour of U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

For Immediate Release: November 3, 2006

2006 is the first year that the U.S. Capitol tree will come from Washington

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire and First Mike on Monday will kick-off the 10-day tour of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree at a ceremony in the rotunda of the Legislative Building. The tree will then travel to community celebrations across the state before making the journey to Washington, D.C.

�Washington is home to some of the most spectacular forests in the world and this is a great opportunity to share our state�s natural beauty with the rest of the country,� said Governor Gregoire.

Governor Gregoire will unveil an original painting of the tree by Olympia artist, Barbara Packard and First Mike will draw the name of one Washington student who will have the opportunity to accompany the tree to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The drawing includes the names of approximately 3,000 Washington students in grades K - 12 who donated handcrafted ornaments to decorate the tree. Governor Gregoire selected First Mike to serve as the honorary co-chair of the ornament committee.

The Olympic National Forest was selected to provide the tree, which was harvested on Wednesday. U.S. Forest Service personnel identified candidate trees early in the summer and the Deputy Superintendent of Capitol Grounds made the final selection of the tree. The decision was kept secret until the cutting on November 1. The 65 foot-tall Pacific Silver Fir was harvested from the headwaters of the Wynoochee River, approximately 35 miles north of Montesano.

Other kick-off activities will include presentation of the flag by the Shelton NJROTC Color Guard, music by the Shelton High School Chamber Choir and the River Ridge High School Band. Speakers include Olympic National Forest Supervisor Dale Hom, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson, Washington State Forester Vicki Christiansen, Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald, Green Diamond Public Affairs Manager Patti Case and Northwest Interpretive Association Executive Director Jim Adams. The event is free and open to the public.

The tree will be exhibited from 8:30 a.m. � 11:00 a.m. in the north parking diagonal near the Winged Victory Monument on the capitol campus.

It will travel to Shelton, Quilcene, Port Angeles, Forks, Amanda Park, Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Vancouver, Stevenson, Toppenish, Pasco, Walla Walla, Spokane, Nespelem, Tonasket, Chelan, Wenatchee, Leavenworth, North Bend, Bremerton, Poulsbo and Seattle before heading across the county to Washington, D.C.

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