Did everybody get to do an . Rnament did you do an ornament yet . Right here at this table. House speaker john painer and other lawmakers participated in the capitol Christmas TreeLighting Ceremony earlier this month. This years tree is an from thehite spruce Chippewa National forest in minnesota. The honorable john boehner will sten his holiday greetings to you and officially light this remarkable tree in just a few moments. Before we get to that big moment to welcome members of congress and distinguished guests. Neighbors, andl those who are visiting our nations capitol today. For joining us on this cold and wet evening. I would especially like to acknowledge members of the minnesota delegation in tonight, including clobechar, al franken and rick nolan. Now, this incredible troa has decorated withy thousands of hand made ornaments crafted by children and others in Minnesota Community as a gift from the land of 10,000 lakes. Speaking of ornaments, each year the u. S. Capitol historical stunningresents a ornament to place upon the tree. Featured a ornament classic capitol design, crafted from the marble steps that used to be on the east front of the capitol. Like totime id introduce former member of congress and president of the Historical Society, sarazin. Much,ven, thank you very mr. Speaker, members of congress, let me add my thanks this event. This wonderful event thks isfoot Christmas Tree which absolutely beautiful, and to are the privilege as president of the u. S. Capitol Historical Society of adding our annual ornament to the tree. Ofh the thousandings ornaments that have been created by the children of minnesota. So i would like to present to youthis ornament and ask to get it on the tree, its made from marble that came from the thetol, it was removed when steps were remove on the east front of the house side of the building in 1990. Much. Nk you very thank you so much. Ron. Ank you so much, u. S. Ore than 40 years, the Forest Service and the architect of the capitol have partnered to Christmas Tree to the capitol from one of our nations forests. Id like to specifically thank all of the dedicated forest staff, both here in washington and in minnesota who this event make possible. Its quite an undertaking and we appreciative of your hard work. We would all like to say thank you to Beverly Carroll who will be retiring with the Forest Service, and beverly has been a part of the capitol Christmas Tree tradition for 20 years, and we wish you all the best, beverly. All a round of applause. [applause] joining us tonight is the honorable robert bonnie, the department of agriculture. He has a holiday message to this with all of you evening. Its an honor to be here u. S. To represent the department of agriculture and the u. S. Forest service. Theears ago speaker of house John Mccormack began the tradition of the capitol Christmas Tree to celebrate the and share a little holiday spirit. The capitol Christmas Tree, which annually hails from one of national forests, is a good reminder to all of us of the certaining con con serving our natural resources. The tree is also a wonderful of the american cando spirit, as each year partners hundreds of volunteers contribute thousands of hours to help trance for the tree from forests tonational the capital. This years tree, a white spruce, comes from the Chippewa National forest in minnesota. Established in 1908 by president Theodore Roosevelt as the first forest east of the mississippi river, it at the headwaters of the river, it 400,000 acres of wetlands and lakes and provides sandat for canada links, hill cranes and the chargest population of bald eagles in the lower 48. It also been home to native for 10,000 years and contains outstanding cultural resources, and that makes todays celebration even more important because the leach lake band much ojibwe has played a critical cole in partnering with service to bring the tree here. Im told there are members of the band here today who were here as children in 192 when a Chippewa National for e was last selected as the tree. L christmas other partners like choose have also contributed. Partners like these are vital for all the work we do on the whether itsst, conserving and restoring our forest eco systems or providing toreational opportunities millions of people. So lets celebrate this and this tree. Merry christmas and happy holidays. [applause] thank you. This tree has been on a tremendous journey, in fact its than 2,000 miles across the country from minnesota. A mere 12 days ago this white spruce arrived here on the dedicated where our team of Capitol Grounds crew went to work decorating it. The final tree, the final of 34 trees for george will be and george you missed as well. Didnt the grounds crew do a job . Stic [applause] theirspecial shout out to leader, ted, the superintendent Capitol Grounds who had the tough task of selecting just one the many amazing trees found in Chippewa National forest. Next, ladies and gentlemen, its my honor to bring up members of delegation to offer their remarks. Introducingnor of senator amy clobechar who became woman elected to represent the state of minnesota inthe United States senate 2006. She serves on the Senate Committee on agriculture, and forestry, which has jurisdiction over forestry she was at the Chippewa National forest to thisee the harvesting of mag any of september magnificent tree. [applause] is solo, everyone, it great to see you here, were so proud of this tree from the of minnesota, where in the word of our unofficial poet laureate gary son keel lor, a where the women are strong, right, the men are good looking, right, and all the trees are above average. Is 88 feet above average, were very proud of it. And also we have our delegation congressman nolan, youll hear from him, congresswoman congressmanmere, walls and congressman paul son are here, and i know if theyre already, congressman pearson and klein are also very proud of this tree. Boehner, you, speaker for being here in the midst and anotherotice that leader on the democratic side, steni hoyer is also with us. Excited toe very have you light up this tree for us tonight. It is so fitting that our state providing this huge Christmas Tree from the forest near bemidgee, minnesota, which is also home to a huge statue of and babe the blue ox. Heres a fun fact, it would fourlly take more than ball bunyan that you thes to reach the star on that tree. I was there at the beginning when this tree was cut by of the year. Ogger who is a really big guy. But hed to do it myself, took over. This tree then traveled chippewaes from the forest. And i was at some of the events in minnesota, i was astounded by of school kid that would turn out just to see this tree. Canwith all the cynicism we have sometimes in washington, it makes you realize that the people of this country and the of this country still care that their tree from their state, one tree in the whole country, is going to be standing in front of this capitol building. And the foresters conservationists and the loggers who Work Together every day to health, beauty and productivity of our forest, this tree has come. Ore minea was an iron concert when the mine closed down he was a logger. So i know how hard this life can be. But it wasnt just where this tree started. The kids that worked on the ornaments, it was the leach lake tribal members, songs prayers that blessed this tree as it went on its journey. Sharing this not so small piece of minnesota here in our letting capital, were everyone know about the Natural Beauty and cultural richness found in our state. Letting everyone know why we need them to come to minnesota and experience it for themselves. Id like to thank everyone who made this possible. To haveo proud Minnesota Tree in front of the United States capitol. Thank you. Luz thank you so much. Now, ladies and gentlemen, its my pleasure to introduce senator al franken who has been serving minnesota since 2009. Senator franken . Thank you for being here, everyone. Its a big honor to have this tree from the Chippewa National forest from minnesota. From the leach lake band of ojibwe. Do not likeesotaans to brag, but our tree is 88 feet tall. The second largest capitol Christmas Tree ever, shorter than the tallest. Okay. Second largest doesnt sound much like a brag, but in minnesota, home of hubert hum free and waller mondale, being second is a brag. 88 feet. How many years it 88foot tall an tree . Neither do i. But im sure it took a very long time. What you dont see here are the brought trees that were from minnesota to washington. You see along with this huge one. There are smaller trees and those trees are scattered throughout offices around the city including one in my office. Also Minnesota Children made decorate allnts to these trees, because we are the land of 10,000 lakes. We have 11,842. But that doesnt have the same lakes. So were the land of 10,000 lakes, thus the 10,000 ornaments that the children from minnesota made. One of the very popular ornaments that these children made is, its called a dream catcher. And you may see one, its like a incular thing with netting there. Ojibweyre part of legend, and they are believed to protect you while youre sleeping by catching all the bad while and thoughts, letting only positive thoughts come true. Now, i think thats a good for the holiday season, dont you all dont you all . Do. You [applause] i knew. Tree,ay as we light this let us only be filled with thetive thoughts and with joy and love of the season. Now, senator clobechar and i lay claim to this tree because as senators we represent the entire state of minnesota. 8ththis tree comes from the congressional district, which is wonderfully represented by nolan. Sman rick so i guess he can lay claim to lesserell, although to a extent. Our great have him, congressman, rick nolan. [applause] well, on behalf of the minnesota delegation, i want to to thisall of you wonderfully warm, balmy and evening. Believe it or not, it was an change indifference, temperature from the time we all left minnesota yesterday and got today. But what a wonderful tree this is. To thank the Forest Service and thank chair woman carey jones of the leach lake band of the great ojibwe chippewa nation. Thank you for nurturing this the wonderful celebration that you i created tree. E harvesting of this whats wonderful about this tree things. But with its 10,000 ornaments they tell methat youll be able to see from outer space once its lit up, speaker boehner, whats really wonderful about it is its right smack dab in the middle of the capitol and theres nothing even partisan about it. I mean, there are no democratic, republican or independent parts of this tree, even though there are branches going out to the left and to the right and between. G in but whats magnificent about it reminds us all that nation and one people, joined together, in a common cause and a common message to the world. Of love, importance peace, liberty, and freedom. Honor it is great for us from minnesota to be able tree atprovided this this time. Thank you so much. [applause] thank you, congressman nolan. It my great privilege to introduce the speaker of the house, john boehner. Speaker boehner has served the district ofe 8th Congress Since 1990 and in january 2011 he became the 53rd speaker of the house. Theght he carries on tradition of lighting the u. S. Capitol Christmas Tree, ladies honorablemen, the john boehner. [applause] andell, thank you steven let me thank all of how are here tonight, and a big thank you to inryone who is involved making this evening happen. From the Architects Team to the Forest Service, to the people of minnesota and to the thousands thetudents who made decorations, all this, this tree the christmas spirit. Season our dome is in a of restoration, we are here to own. One of our this scene was much hum bloomberg that first christmas, group much she hers keeping watch on a quiet night. But it is to these simple men a the angel suddenly appears, unto you is born this day the city of david a savior, which is christ the lord. The shepherds dont just rejoice at this gift, they go and catch a glimpse of it for themselves. Now go to bethlehem, they come to one another and