Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree 
To commemorate fallen veterans and pray for the safety of troops overseas, hundreds of park lovers took tour buses to the 80th annual Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree Ceremony at Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park last December. To put trekkers in the holiday spirit and set a patriotic tone for the celebration, carolers sang Christmas songs and the “Star Spangled Banner” on the bus.
About 350 people gathered to watch rangers place a memorial wreath at the base of the towering General Grant Tree, then gathered ’round as a representative from President Bush’s office read aloud from a letter written by George W. Bush:
“Since 1926, the Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree has reminded Americans of the promise of Christmasa promise of peace on Earth and goodwill to menand of the sacrifices of the men and women who have laid down their lives to secure peace for future generations.”
In 1926 President Calvin Coolidge designated the General Grant tree as the Nation’s Christmas Tree, after Charles E. Lee of Sanger wrote a letter urging the president to do so. Ever since then, countless people have traveled hundreds of miles to view the tree and pay homage to all that it symbolizes.
