WASHINGTON D.C. - This year’s Capitol Christmas tree, a 50-foot Fraser fir, arrived Monday in Washington, D.C., powered by a beautiful green Mack CH tractor. The 27-year-old tree was cut from the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. U.S. Capitol Landscape Architect Matthew Evans said he chose the tree because of its near-perfect symmetry. "There are no corners here that you can back it into it, so it has to be perfect," he said. The tree is positioned in the middle of the lawn at the foot of the grand staircase on the Capitol’s West front. For the past 30 years, one of the 155 national forests around the country has provided the tree that will stand at the head of the prominent spot, which is also at the head of the great mall in Washington. Since no federal funds are available to transport the tree, a partnership was formed between the U.S. Forest Service, state forestry services and industry sponsors. This year, as last year, two truck tractors were provided by Mack Trucks and D.M. Bowman Trucking Co., of Williamsport, Md. Hale Trailer of Allentown, Pa., provided a 48-foot Dorsey flatbed trailer. Driver Dave Duvall, Rockwood, Pa., said delivering the tree to the Capitol is the most fun he has all year. "It’s the climax. The rest of the year is pretty normal," said he said, noting that driving a 1998 Mack truck isn’t bad duty, either. His truck comes with 427 horsepower, 13-speeds and a 64-inch sleeper.

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