Last night President Obama and his family, in the presence of a few hundred guests, lit the National Christmas Tree. The twenty-six foot Colorado blue spruce replaced the tree that had stood on the Elipse since 1978. The old tree was blown down by high winds earlier this year. The new National Christmas Tree comes to DC by way of a northern New Jersey Nursery, and will stand on the Elipse until Time and Nature (or an act of Congress) determines its eventual return to the earth.

Next Tuesday, House Speaker John Boehner will light the Capitol Christmas Tree. The sixty-five foot tall, 118 year old Sierra white fir from Stanislaus National Forest, made the 3,000 mile journey to Washington, DC on the back of a big diesel truck. After the 2011-2012 holiday season it will likely be chipped up and spread as mulch in any number of the Capitol’s exquisite gardens.

Yes, In 2011 we still chop down century-old trees and ship them thousands of miles by truck  to stand for a few weeks as a symbol of our National dedication to good will toward others and peace on earth.