November 25, 2008

Capitol’s Christmas Tree Arriving on Monday

                                                                                              December 1, 2008 

UPDATE: Capitol’s Christmas Tree Arriving on Monday

MONTGOMERY – The Christmas tree is expected to arrive at the State Capitol today at approximately 11:30 a.m. It is then expected to take another hour to be moved from the truck and set up at the top of the Capitol steps.

MONTGOMERY - The Christmas tree that will take center stage at the state’s annual tree lighting ceremony will arrive at the State Capitol on Monday, Governor Bob Riley said today.

The tree is a 45-foot tall Eastern Red Cedar that will be decorated with thousands of lights for the annual tree lighting celebration, which is scheduled for Friday, December 5 at 5:15 p.m. Like last year’s Christmas tree, this year’s tree was located on state-owned land along U.S. Highway 80 near Mitylene in Montgomery County.

“The arrival of the Christmas tree at the Capitol is a welcome site every year,” said Governor Riley. “It’s a symbol of hope; a reminder that God’s grace and love are all around us.”

The Garden Club of Alabama sponsors the annual Christmas tree lighting celebration. The theme for each year’s ceremony is the same: Every Light a Prayer for Peace. Following the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, there will be a Christmas parade down Dexter Avenue in Montgomery that begins at 6:00 p.m.