National Van Lines will soon begin moving the 2006 Capitol Holiday Tree eastward, strapped on a Fontaine expandable trailer. By the time it reaches Washington, D.C. on Nov. 27th, the tree will have traveled more than 4,300 miles.

Carefully selected from the Olympic National Forest located on Washington's scenic Olympic Peninsula, the tree will be harvested this Friday.
“National Van Lines is used to moving items of every size,” says Maureen Beal, CEO of the company, “but being selected again to transport something as huge and symbolic as the Capitol Christmas Tree is a very rare treat.”
Standing 65 feet tall, this tree presents certain logistical challenges. “Traveling cross-country with such a large load calls for a special type of driver,” remarks Roger Harl, vice president of operations for National Van Lines. “We are fortunate to have one of our very best at the wheel. This year, Gordy Grove, who resides in Washington State, will do the honors. He is especially proud to be able to share this rare opportunity with his friends and neighbors in Washington.”
In addition to the “Nation’s Tree,” National Van Lines will also transport the 3,000 ornaments created by Washington State schoolchildren, and 65 additional trees that will be placed in various Capitol Hill offices. Mike Yost, vice president of Special Commodities, says, “This year’s driver, Michael “Smokey” Hardwick, comes from our truckload fleet, and was previously honored as our Driver of the Year in 2001.
The cutting will be followed by a brief ceremony on location, and a festive road tour, Nov. 6th through 15th, through communities all around the state. National Van Lines, this year's primary event sponsor, and Fontaine Trailer, which is donating the use of a specially-designed, expandable trailer to accommodate the unusual length of the tree, will begin the journey to Washington D.C., on Nov. 17th, driving through Boise, Ida.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Cheyenne, Wyo.; Omaha, Neb.; Chicago, Ill.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Baltimore, Md.; and finally to Washington D.C., on Nov. 27th.