The 2020 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting took place Wednesday, Dec. 2, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The tree was transported by Colorado-based Apex Transportation with a Kenworth T680 from Colorado to Washington, D.C. Members of Colorado’s congressional delegation, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and others spoke at a lighting ceremony for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree – an Engelmann Spruce from the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado.
Below, see photos of the two Apex Transportation drivers – William ‘Butch’ Hanna and Theron Schmalzried – and some of the stops they made along the 10-day journey from Colorado to the nation’s capital.
Representing Apex Transportation at the tree unloading on Nov. 20 were, from left: Theron Schmalzried, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree driver; Dennis Atencio, vice president of risk management; Walt Schattinger; president; and Glenn McCormack, driver supervisor. (Photo by Paul Feenstra)
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour drivers William “Butch” Hanna (left) and Theron Schmalzried. (Photo by James Edward Mills)
The Engelmann Spruce was loaded onto the Kenworth T680 on Nov. 5 in Colorado. (Photo by James Edward Mills)
One of the first stops on the trip was in Ouray, Colorado, on Nov. 11. (Photo by James Edward Mills)
A group of children visited the tree along its journey in Gunnison, Colorado, on Nov. 12. (Photo by James Edward Mills)
Santa stopped to check out the truck in Paonia, Colorado, on Nov. 12. (Photo by James Edward Mills)
Another group of children were able to see the tree in Salinda, Colorado, on Nov. 13. (Photo by James Edward Mills)
The tree also made a stop at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver on Nov. 14. (Photo by James Edward Mills)
After a stop in Burlington, Colorado, on Nov. 15, the tree left the state to continue its trip across the country. (Photo by James Edward Mills)Scenes from last year’s New Mexico-D.C. run’s stop in Nashville, Tennessee:
