Lansing - A 74-foot white spruce forced traffic away from Michigan Avenue in front of Oldsmobile Park for more than two hours Wednesday night.
Michigan’s Ottawa National Forest, located in the western portion of the Upper Peninsula, provided the tree that will make its way to the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 11. This year’s U.S. Capitol Holiday Tree was chosen from a handful of forests across the country.
The tree was the guest of honor at Lansing’s 2001 Tree of Hope Celebration. Lansing was chosen to host the holiday event after being nominated by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton. Lansing is located an equal distance between Washington, D.C., and Ottawa National Forest.
“Little did we know a year ago when they named this the Tree of Hope, how important it would be to our community and our country,” Rogers said. “Prior to Sept. 11, very few in the United States would have recognized it. I guarantee on Dec. 11 when Dennis Hastert flicks the light on the tree, on our Capitol’s grounds, the world will know it.”
Lansing resident Barbara Hughes-Kindig joined her three children for the ceremony Wednesday night. She said her son read about the tree, featured in Tim Kissman’s book titled “Michigan’s TREE-mendous Gift,” in school.
“It’s a symbol for hope, for the future and the season,” she said. “It’s a neat project the way they brought this together and to think that our tree is going to the capitol”.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Lansing Democrat, joined Rogers and Lansing Mayor David Hollister at the celebration.
“Nothing is more special for me than to be home and to see this wonderful tree going on to Washington, D.C.,” Stabenow said.
Stabenow also said when the holidays are finished, the tree will be used by Habitat for Humanity for the construction of Michigan homes.
“In addition to being a symbol of Michigan, when it is done it is going to be divided up into pieces of lumber that will go on to be the foundation of homes for Michigan families,” she said.
Hollister said this celebration was special, especially in the wake of the attacks, and represented the state’s ability to bounce back.
“Having the tree from Michigan makes a lot of sense,” he said. “It is a symbolic statement particularly this year. We are a resilient state, we have been through a lot over the last few decades.”
Before the festivities came to a close, those in attendance were greeted by Mrs. Claus, who rolled into the ceremony atop a Mercedes-Benz convertible.
Commenting on why Mrs. Claus opted to arrive at Oldsmobile Park with a Mercedes, Hollister said, “She showed up and that’s what’s important.”
