County of Hyde issued the following announcement on Nov. 7.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is making a pit stop on its way to Washington D.C. at Union Point Park in New Bern on Saturday November 12th at 1:00 p.m.
The approximately 78-foot-tall Red Spruce will be harvested from the Pisgah National Forest on November 2nd and prepared for the nearly 1,000-mile expedition.
Each year, a different national forest provides a tree to light up the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for the holiday season.
The last time a tree was selected from North Carolina was in 1998.
The journey will include a series of stops throughout the state before being delivered to the U.S. Capitol on November 18th, where it will be decorated with handmade ornaments and tree skirts specially created by North Carolinians.
Organizations from all over, including the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation worked to complete the state goal of 6,000 ornaments themed “From the Mountains to the Sea” that display the diversity of people, places, plants, and animals for which North Carolina is known. Pitt County Soil and Water Conservation coordinated with local schools and youth organizations to be included in this statewide effort.
“We are pleased to receive more than 60 ornaments representing Pitt County that highlight the use of natural, recyclable, and repurposed materials. The focus on natural resources and the opportunity to promote community awareness to care for them aligns with the Division’s mission ‘to foster voluntary, incentive-driven management of soil, water, and related natural resources for the benefit of the environment, economy, and all citizens,” says PJ Andrews, Director, Pitt County Soil and Water Conservation.
New Bern Fire-Rescue will suspend the American flag over the tree and all who enter the park.
After the tree’s arrival, Mayor Jeffrey Odham, 6th Ward Alderman Robert Brinson (U.S. Army veteran), and other special guests will be in attendance for remarks and veteran honors before the day’s festivities begin.
Families will be able to take photos with the tree, visit with Santa, listen to holiday music, enjoy hot chocolate from the Baker’s Rise food truck, decorate ornaments, and sign a banner with friendly holiday messages that will go with the tree to Washington, D.C.
Original source can be found here. .
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