Capitol Christmas Tree Lights Up the DC Skyline

Fox Photo/John Brandt

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., lit the Capitol Christmas Tree to kick off Congress' Christmas celebrations during a ceremony on a frigid Tuesday night.

The tree, a 67-foot Engelmann Spruce from Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest, is the first in the tradition's 47-year history to hail from the Equality State. It is adorned with over 5,000 handmade ornaments from Wyoming citizens and covered by thousands of LED lights.

Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso said the tree was a gift given from his state to the Capitol to celebrate Christ's birth.

Members of the United States Navy Band and the All-City Children's Chorus from Cheyenne, Wyoming regaled the hundreds on hand to watch the illumination ceremony with a medley of Christmas carols. Soldiers currently recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center viewed the ceremony from the Speaker's Balcony with their families.

Daniel Sitter, a sixth grader from Wyoming, won a contest to help the speaker light the tree.