LIVE: Capitol tree lighting in Washington, DC

Key Concepts

• Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: An annual tradition where the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is lit, symbolizing the holiday spirit and national unity.
• "The People's Tree": A designation for the Capitol Christmas tree, emphasizing its representation of all Americans.
• U.S. Forest Service: The agency responsible for selecting, harvesting, and transporting the Capitol Christmas tree from a national forest.
• Architect of the Capitol: The office responsible for the maintenance and operation of Capitol buildings and grounds, including the placement and decoration of the Christmas tree.
• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest: The national forest in Nevada from which this year's Capitol Christmas tree was sourced.
• Silver Bell: The name given to the 2025 Capitol Christmas tree, a 53-foot red fir, symbolizing Nevada's "Silver State" nickname.
• Youth Tree Lighter: A young individual selected through an essay contest to assist in lighting the Capitol Christmas tree.
• Nevada's Public Lands and National Forests: The focus of this year's ceremony, highlighting the natural beauty, wildlife, history, and recreational opportunities within Nevada's diverse landscapes.
• Resilience and Perseverance: A theme underscored by the story of the Davis wildfire and the community's recovery, with the tree serving as a symbol of hope.

61st Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

This summary details the 61st annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the United States Capitol, focusing on the selection and lighting of the 2025 Capitol Christmas tree, "Silver Bell," from Nevada's Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The event brought together distinguished guests, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, members of the Nevada delegation, and representatives from the U.S. Forest Service and the Architect of the Capitol.

Introduction and Welcome

• Architect of the Capitol, Thomas Austin (13th Architect): Welcomed attendees to the 61st annual ceremony, introducing Speaker Mike Johnson and youth tree lighter Grady Armstrong. He highlighted the tradition's origin in 1964 and the partnership with the U.S. Forest Service since 1970.
• The 2025 Capitol Christmas Tree: A 53-foot red fir from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, marking the first time a tree from Nevada has been selected. It was named "Silver Bell" after the "Silver State."
• Tree's Journey: Silver Bell traveled over 3,000 miles by truck from Nevada to Washington D.C.
• Decoration: The tree was decorated with thousands of lights and handcrafted ornaments from communities across Nevada by the Capitol Grounds and Arboretum team.
• Power and Sound: The Capitol Power Plant team provided power for the tree and the sound system.

U.S. Forest Service Perspective

• Chief Tom Schultz (21st Chief of the U.S. Forest Service): Expressed honor in serving and overseeing 193 million acres of national forest and grasslands. He noted this is the 55th year the Forest Service has provided a tree and the first for Nevada.
• Silverbell's Significance: The tree, nicknamed Silverbell, symbolizes the Silver State.
• Ornamentation: Over 22,000 handmade ornaments, the most ever submitted, were created, representing Nevada's iconic places, wildlife, and culture. These ornaments also adorned other trees in federal buildings.
• Nevada's Natural Beauty: Chief Schultz encouraged visitors to explore Nevada beyond its neon lights, describing it as a "recreator's paradise" with diverse outdoor activities.
• Campaign Theme: "Starry skies to neon lights, spirit of the silver state" was the fitting theme, capturing Nevada's natural beauty, history, and people.
• Gratitude: He thanked the Forest Service team, sponsors (Society of American Foresters, Sierra Forever, 84 Lumber), and partners for their contributions.

Nevada Delegation's Remarks

• Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony (Nevada): Expressed excitement and pride from Nevadans for hosting the tree for the first time. He detailed the process, which began six months prior with the Forest Service.
  • Forest Service Professionalism: Praised the dedication and professionalism of the U.S. Forest Service employees.
  • Ornament Creation: Nevada created over 20,000 ornaments, exceeding the initial goal of 10,000 due to community enthusiasm.
  • Youth Tree Lighter Selection: Approximately 250 children submitted essays. Grady Armstrong was selected as the finalist.
  • Virginia City: Highlighted Grady's hometown, a historically wealthy mining city, as a great place to grow up and a tourist destination.
  • Tree's Journey within Nevada: The tree began its journey at the Nevada Day parade, traveled through Winnemucca, Ely, and Las Vegas before heading east.
  • Truck Driver Appreciation: Acknowledged the truck driver for safely transporting the massive tree.
• Representative Mark Ammedday (Nevada's 2nd District): Welcomed attendees from Hugh Gallagher Elementary and Virginia City High School. He congratulated Grady and his family, noting Grady's mother is an alumna of Virginia City High. He praised Grady's essay and highlighted the Nevada-centric atmosphere of the event.
• Senator Katherine Cortez Masto (Nevada): Expressed honor in celebrating Nevada's first Capitol Christmas tree.
  • Forest Service Appreciation: Thanked the U.S. Forest Service for the safe arrival of Silver Bell and their work protecting forests.
  • Grady Armstrong: Described Grady as an incredible, articulate young man who gives excellent interviews and knows everything about the tree and the holiday season.
  • Ornament Count: Confirmed the tree was decorated with 23,000 unique ornaments.
  • Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest: Emphasized that Nevada has forests beyond its well-known neon lights, with the Humboldt-Toiyabe being one of the largest in the lower 48 states.
  • Davis Wildfire: Shared the story of the Davis wildfire in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which burned 5,800 acres. She highlighted the bravery of firefighters, including Grady's father, Brent, who is a firefighter.
  • Symbol of Resilience: Silver Bell was presented as a symbol of resilience and perseverance, representing the American spirit in overcoming hardship.
  • Message of Hope: The illuminated tree serves as a reminder of light and hope during the holiday season.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Remarks

• Secretary Brooke Rollins (U.S. Department of Agriculture): Extended greetings on behalf of President Donald Trump and the cabinet. She welcomed Nevadans to Washington D.C. and praised the "real America" represented by Grady, his family (a firefighter and a teacher), and the people of Nevada.
  • USDA's Role: Mentioned the USDA, founded by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, as "the people's department."
  • Joy of Service: Expressed privilege and pride in serving the people of the United States Forest Service, highlighting their passion for protecting forests.
  • Meaning of the Tree: Encouraged attendees to remember the reason for the season and what the tree's light represents.

Speaker of the House Remarks

• Speaker of the House Mike Johnson: Thanked Chief Schultz, Mr. Austin, and Michael Porter (the truck driver). He expressed gratitude to the Nevada delegation for sharing their state's tree.
  • Nevada Pronunciation: Lightheartedly acknowledged the pronunciation of "Nevada."
  • Season of Light and Hope: Described Christmas as a season of light, hope, and renewal, inviting reflection on blessings.
  • Strength in Unity: Stated that the nation's strength, like the 53-foot tree, comes from individual lights shining together, emphasizing unity as one nation under God.
  • Generational Responsibility: Drew a parallel between the decades it takes for red fir trees to grow and the generational work required to preserve the republic and self-governance.
  • 250th Birthday: Mentioned the upcoming 250th birthday of the nation and the importance of renewing commitment to this task.
  • Introducing Grady Armstrong: Introduced Grady Armstrong as the "man of the hour," a 9-year-old fourth grader from Virginia City, Nevada, and the winner of the Capital Christmas Tree Essay contest. He noted Grady's essay involved "literal blood, sweat, and tears," including a cut pinky finger.

Youth Tree Lighter's Essay

• Grady Armstrong (9 years old, 4th Grade, Hugh Gallagher Elementary School, Virginia City, Nevada):
  • Family Influence: His grandfather worked at Mount Rose Ski area, and his father is a firefighter at Lake Tahoe. His mother is a teacher. They instilled in him a love for forests, nature, and the outdoors.
  • Nevada's Public Lands: Emphasized the wonder of Nevada's public lands and national forests, home to diverse wildlife (elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, fish, lizards, birds).
  • Natural Springs: Described finding springs in dry areas that sustain life and are often sites for arrowheads, remnants of indigenous tribes.
  • Ancient History: Mentioned seeing ancient petroglyphs.
  • Favorite Wilderness Areas: Mount Rose and Ark Dome, Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, and Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary.
  • "Nevada Highways": Described his family's adventures on dirt roads, discovering ghost towns, abandoned mines, and untouched landscapes.
  • Nevada's Diversity: Argued that Nevada is more than a desert, possessing life, history, and beauty, and stressed the importance of protecting these places.
  • Sunset and Moonrise: Recounted watching the sunset over the Sierras and the moonrise over Nevada from Mount Davidson.

Tree Lighting and Conclusion

• Speaker Johnson: Praised Grady as a tremendous ambassador for Nevada and a gifted writer.
• Invitation to Light the Tree: Invited the Nevada Congressional delegation, Lieutenant Governor Anthony, Mr. Austin, and Chief Schultz to join Grady for the lighting.
• Countdown: A countdown from five initiated the lighting of the tree.
• Thomas Austin (Architect of the Capitol): Briefly thanked attendees and announced the tree would be lit nightly from dusk until 11:00 p.m. until January 6th, encouraging people to return and see it.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The 61st annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony celebrated Nevada's first-ever contribution to this national tradition with the selection and lighting of "Silver Bell," a 53-foot red fir. The event highlighted the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Forest Service and the Architect of the Capitol, emphasizing the beauty and importance of Nevada's public lands and national forests. The story of the Davis wildfire and the community's resilience, symbolized by the tree, underscored themes of hope and perseverance. The ceremony also recognized the talent and spirit of young Grady Armstrong, whose essay eloquently captured the essence of Nevada and the significance of the holiday season. The event served as a powerful reminder of national unity, the generational responsibility of stewardship, and the enduring spirit of the American people, especially during times of hardship.