header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 29
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys


SCV resident Marilyn Hackett tries to get a look through the plexiglass at the upper branches of the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree.

Expectations ran a bit high for spectators who thought they’d see the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree standing upright Saturday morning at the Saugus Speedway, but at more than 8,000 pounds and six stories in height, it wasn’t coming out of its brand-new Mack truck and trailer during the brief stop along its two-week, 4,500-mile cross-country journey.

The small but steady stream of Santa Clarita residents who braved the gathering storm clouds did get to peek through plexiglass at the tree’s top branches and sign banners spanning both sides of the 65-foot trailer – an enormous “thank you” card to the sponsors of the privately funded trek.

“This is the people’s tree,” said Maria Benech, the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree coordinator. “It’s going in front of the people’s house.”

Canyon Country resident Dante Acosta penned a special message on one of the banners. His son, Army Spc. Rudy Acosta, 19, was killed in action in Afghanistan on March 19.

Saturday was less about seeing the tree than leaving messages that will travel with it across country.

“I put, ‘Rest in peace, Rudy,’ and I also mentioned Donald Mickler, who was killed alongside Rudy,” Acosta said. “I want people to know that the reason we can do these things, these celebrations, and be here, is because of our soldiers and fighting men and women around the country, around the world, that are fighting for our freedom. I want to make sure that’s always in the forefront of people’s minds.”

Service organizations used the opportunity to collect cards that will be sent to U.S. troops during the holidays. Catherine Moore, a fourth grade teacher at Pico Canyon Elementary School, handed her classroom’s batch of holiday greetings to U.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon and his staff.

“It’s hard for people to understand the impact,” said McKeon, R-Santa Clarita. “But (for military personnel) to hear from home, and especially during the holiday season, it’s just a fantastic thing to be a part of.”

McKeon, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, started putting out the call for holiday cards two years ago just prior to a Thanksgiving trip to Afghanistan. He delivered the cards in several locations, including hospitals. There was one he says he’ll never forget.

USDA Forester Maria Benech, coordinator of the 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, answers a young visitor's question.

“This soldier was lying in (a hospital) bed and I handed him the cards. I was still talking to him, but he started reading the cards. Then he started laughing. He held up the card for me to see and it says, ‘Dear Soldier, don’t die.’ From a third grader.”

On Saturday a different third grader, Jeremy Root from Sulphur Springs Community School, crafted a card with a more traditional albeit equally simple message.

It said, “’Thank you’ (from) Jeremy, as a thank you for what they do – fight for our freedom,” the boy said.

His sister, first grader Jenna Root, said she “made a card for the soldiers, because the soldiers fight for things. I wrote, ‘Thank you for all you do,’ and I signed it.”

Suzon Gerstel and her small army of volunteers from Prayer Angels for the Military ran a booth for people to donate toys for military children. They could also make cards, letters and ornaments to go into care packages, and sign a banner to be sent to troops fighting in Afghanistan.

“It’s just a great way to kick off Christmas,” Gerstel said.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree trek got into the spirit of giving, as well, with a food drive for Gallup, New Mex.

“We (saw that) Gallup was one of the cities that runs along our route on Highway 40,” Benech said. “It’s the third poorest city in the nation, has a mean annual income of $5,000, and we felt, ‘My gosh, what can we do for Gallup?’ So we’re doing a canned food drive. At every (stop) we’re asking people to bring canned food for us, and we’re providing that to Gallup.”

Cash is OK, too, she said. “We’re going to be buying some food before we head out of (California) for those folks in Gallup.”

The tree is due to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 20. It will be lit Dec. 6 by House Speaker John Boehner and by a child from Sonora, Calif., who won a drawing.

The tree is a Sierra white fir that comes from a portion of the Stanislaus National Forest about 50 miles east of Sonora, Benech said. The USDA Forest Service has provided a Christmas tree for the U.S. Capitol annually since 1970. This is only the fourth time in those 41 years that the tree came from California, and the first time since 1995.

Benech said the Forest Service chief in Washington picks the region each year. This year he picked the Forest Service region that consists of California and Hawaii.

“It wasn’t going to come from Hawaii,” Benech said.

She described the tree as “perfectly conical. If you go to the Christmas tree lot, it’s the perfect tree that you’re looking for – really full, no holes in it. It’s 360 degrees around perfection.”

It took two cranes to lift it onto its ride.

“It’s on a specially made cradle so the bottom branches didn’t break when we set it on the truck,” Benech said. “It also sits in a 60-gallon bladder. We used a big old inner tube, and we fill it with 60 gallons of water every night so we can keep it green, just like you do with your Christmas tree at home.”

She said Santa Clarita was selected for a showing because “it was a nice in-between stop.” On Friday it was in Kingsburg and it’s scheduled to stop Sunday at the Autry Center in Los Angeles.

Benech said the entire trip – except for her salary as a USDA forester – is funded through donations, including the truck and fuel.

Asked about the environmental implications of chopping down a tree in a national forest, she said, “We cut trees down all the time. It’s actually really healthy for the forest.”

“We have more trees today than we did historically because of our fire suppression that we’ve been doing for years – which is a great thing, not to let the forest burn up,” she said. “But unfortunately we’re really good at it. We actually have an overabundance of trees. Removing this one tree from the forest is actually a good thing.”

She said this year’s Capitol Christmas tree “is an older tree that was kind of really slowing down its growth.”

Sierra white pines “don’t live much beyond 150 years,” she said, “unlike the sugar pine or the ponderosa pine that will live 400 or 500 years, no problem. Removing this tree actually allowed those trees around it to grow and be better. It was competing for water, and now it’s not. So it’s a good way to end its life and be a wonderful way out, in front of the Capitol.”

Even then, its service won’t be done.

“After Christmas, it will be taken down and it will be mulched and spread on the Capitol grounds so none of it goes to waste,” said McKeon.

“We’re fortunate here in Santa Clarita to have it stop for four hours,” he said, adding: “This is middle America. Even though we’re on the West Coast, this is middle America. People that love their country are here to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season.”















Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

3 Comments

  1. Debbie says:

    Thanks for the great story, and all of the pictures, especially the pictures of our dog Bruno. It was a great start to the Holiday Seasons. Thank you Charles & Debbie Lamb members of the Ameriacan Legion Riders of Post 507.

  2. Debbie says:

    Thank you for the great story, and all of the pictures, especially the pictures of our dog Bruno. It was a great way to start the Holiday Season. Thanks Charles & Debbie Lamb members of the American Legion Riders of Post 507.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
SCVNews.com