 The national Christmas tree after it was toppled on Saturday
February 19th, 2011
01:41 PM ET
National Christmas tree toppledBy CNN's Mary Grace Lucas WASHINGTON (CNN) –The nation's most energy-efficient National Christmas Tree doesn't appear to be the nation's most energy-resistant one. The 42-foot tall Colorado blue spruce snapped at its base during high winds Saturday morning in Washington. Sustained winds at 25 miles per hour and wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour swept through the area and snapped the tree 4 feet above the ground, the National Park Service said in a statement. By 5:30 p.m., less than seven hours later, the tree was reduced to mulch by work crews. The tree was trimmed over the holidays with green-hued LED lights and snowflake ornaments in an area called "The Ellipse" directly between the south lawn of the White House and the Washington Monument. According to the National Park Service, decorations are provided by sponsoring organizations in from every state and are placed in a "protective plastic globe" to protect them from bad weather. The Park Service has identified a successor tree and will announce this spring when it will be brought to the Ellipse, the statement said. The spruce had been in its current location for more than 32 years. It came from the Myers family farm outside of York, Pennsylvania, the Park Service said. "The tree had been planted and watered by the Myers' grandchildren. When the tree was 6 years old it had been planted in the Myers' front yard as a Mother's Day gift for Mrs. Myers. After discussions with the NPS |
  |
 |
|||
|
|
|
||||
is this an 87 year old planting? and the first time it fell down? be more concise, CNN. thanks
Sir, it's not concise, it's precise. And this tree was planted in 1978. WTOP.com is more informative.
Hey there's this amazing website called Google you should check it out! You seem to be an armchair expert and interested in useless facts so you should love it.
This particular tree has been the National Christmas Tree since 1978. This is, unfortunately, not the first time we've lost a tree since the decision was made to go with a live, permanent tree in 1973. The first one failed to thrive and died in 1977. The replacement for that tree was blown over also, several months later, and was replaced by this tree in 1978. The poor things. We haven't had the best of luck. I love trees. This is very sad. 🙁
No– it was planted in 1978. The tradition of lighting a tree goes back that far, but the tree dates from the Carter administration.
The Tea party did it . They have to admit it because they cannot tell a lie.
Faisal, I have never heard of a tree blowing down twice usually when they blow down the first time they are done for.
Try reading more thoroughly:
"The spruce had been in its current location for more than 32 years. It came from the Myers family farm outside of York, Pennsylvania, the Park Service said. "
The Tradition is 87 years old. the tree is about 40 years. Not bad for a blue spruce. Trees get old and die too.
I'm sure the base weakened during the Bush administration!
Oh. this one was planted in 1978.
thenationaltree.org/event-history/national-christmas-tree/
It seems that the trees don't fare very well in DC. A few have been snapped by high winds over the years.
Those nutty teabaggers will probably try to blame the President for this too
Looks like it's pretty gangly & sucky anyway. Clark Griswold would be ashamed.
lol foreshadow
Looks like another victim to budget 'cuts'
Perhaps this is God's comment on Obama's presidency. All Barrack Hussein Obama has done since he came to office is mock Christianity.
This proves O'bama isn't christian.
This was clearly an act of terrorism.
Please don't misunderstand – I'm not thrilled about the tree being down – but I really can't wait to see what the far right conspiratorialists make of this. What will it be proof of?
I hope they don't disappoint you. While you are waiting, get a life.
Anything and everything of course (any conspiracy theory types, not just the right wing) – it's an awful shame about the tree though.
I don't know about the right , but I'm sure the far left has already started the "Bush's fault" mantra.
That it was windy? 😉
It is. We live nearby, and between a very sudden, very wet and heavy 10" snowfall a few weeks back, and a couple of days of extra-strong wind, there are trees snapped and branches down in every neighborhood I've traveled through. Some big trees snapped like this one..all our trees have lost limbs, and some of the smaller ones kind of split on the top, with pieces coming down. It's a mess.
Muslims and Godless Communist just don’t have the experience necessary to safely erect a Christmas Tree.
Lack of CO2 for the tree's photosynthesis process?
My thoughts exactly. Let's see...Palin will somehow blame it on Michelle Obama and the others will say it was cut down by Obama because he isn't Christian. Or WAIT...maybe this is God telling America that the first family are Muslims.(Glenn Beck)
That God is an atheist who hates Christmas?
Well give us your thoughts Yellowdog. I would say that since Obama has killed, employment, economy trying to kill the military, and if Obamacare makes it it will kill medicare and medicaid. He stands on the oblique of killing Social Security and Medicare. If he can he will bankrupt Ajmerica. SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE VEGATION IS DYING AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE FROM THE PESTICIDE INSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE.
How does one “stand on the oblique of killing” anything?
Wow Gaylon, you couldn't be more wrong, God is not happy with the Republican's who are screwing over his children.
I'm not crazy about Obama either but he didn't kill the tree, it was G.W. Bush of course
God don't like Abortion, a (Democrat Plan for killing black babies) and you have the nerve to say God don't like Christmas.
Since the Obamas do not celebrate Christmas (unless in a gym in Hawaii) the tree felt abandoned in hostile territory and decided it would bow out graciously rather than remain in a place where it was no longer honored by a new regime that seeks to destroy all revered American traditions.
You accuse these shadowy "far right" conspirators, but so far you are the only one who has seen them. You need help.
And I mean help, as in someone should teach you how to use the internet. This posting was about a tree that snapped in Washington, which was put there for all to enjoy. This blog is put here by CNN for all to enjoy. You turned it into some kind of personal crusade that shows your bigotry, intolerance and ignorance. And childishness.
So sad. Your goal is to keep the country divided, it would seem. This is not good for anyone.
BFD
"yellowdog
Please don't misunderstand – I'm not thrilled about the tree being down – but I really can't wait to see what the far right conspiratorialists make of this. What will it be proof of?"
Um, it will prove that trees can fall in wind.
Visited the W.H. a few months ago and this tree and others around the area look like they are dying, they are withering from age.
And you can tell this HOW?
Look, they don't like having tiny trees in some prominent places for landscaping purposes, but they constantly plant new stuff around the mall to keep things looking nice. Very rarely do you see a big swath of new stuff because they mix it up with the older stuff. Maybe you came by during a dry spell. We have those here, specifically in the summer when we get a lot of visitors from out of town.
I've saw mention of the tree not expected to live much longer, hence a replacement was being lined up.
It looks like the wind made the replacement necessary a bit earlier than expected.
It's NOT like DC is an area that is native to those trees, it's an old swamp.
"A few months ago?" Did that happen to be, um, in the summer? Some green stuff turns brown here in the summer due to the heat. But we go pretty often, and that thing was big and green as late as a couple weeks back. Sorry we're not a tropical jungle like, um, Texas?
Perhaps this is the tree's version of a /facepalm...
uh, i don't think this tree is going to "hoisted" any time soon. turned into picnic tables maybe.
I'm in DC in the same neighborhood as the white house and it is REALLY windy here this weekend. I'm not surprised that it was enough to take out a tree, especially one that stands alone without a whole lot of wind breaks around it.
Quite true. It's windy here in SE Pennsylvania too.
Though one IS tempted to say something about a lack of windbreaks and a bunch of windbags on the hill... 😉
Christmas tree snapping? The public snapping? Nature imitating life in the US.
Too much b.s. wind from the Obama WH.
This is obviously Obama's fault.
Bill-o is already working overtime on this one. See what happens to Christmas when you let them Moozlims move in?
Has Christmas been moved to February 18th? Amazing what happens when one deploys for a handful of years!
And what is a Moozlim? Where did some move into?
Don’t worry about that February 18th date it is probably a SEIU thing, something about having three shifts required for twenty-four watching until a specified time after decorating the tree. Collective bargaining don’t yah know.
Why does the white house still have a christmas tree? its almost march....
Dear Park Service: Replacing this tree probably isn't in your budget, if you get a budget this year. I'd like to contribute.
must be the muslims who did this
It a tree falls in Washington and no one is there, does it still make a sound/
There's no question about it. The tree was toppled by God because Obama is a socialist dictator and the healthcare bill is an attempt by communists to take over the health care industry. It's all true. It's all true. It's all true.
One more time: it's all true.
There! NOW it's true !!!
Does a tree falling in the D.C. make a sound when evidently no one there hears anything anyway?
Wow CNN, that is some top-notch reporting. Thanks for letting us know about the protective snow globes.
Wow... just, wow.
The tree snapped because relations have snapped.
It is the SIGN!
Heck this must be Bush's fault, everything else seems to be blamed on him
Can it be fixed? It is snapped at the base (duh) Its (was) a permanent tree planted in 1978,
I know most of you aren't from Washington, so there's some excuse there, but the NPS didn't return CNN's phone call because they don't talk to idiots. Even to look at the picture you can see THE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE IS A PERMANENT LIVING, GROWING BLUE SPUCE ON THE SOUTH LAWN. Now it is dead. D E A D. It won't be "hoisted" again, because it is an ex-tree. A new one will be planted, no doubt, but this one is gone. It stood since 1978.
Mother nature is spearheading the war on Christmas.
This national symbol of peace falls the day after the USA, voting alone against the whole world (including America), embraces war and other crimes by Israel. Coincidence or a message from a higher power to stop the hypocrisy and get on the right side of history?
It's a good analogy for how Obama sees the future of America. Energy efficient but weak.
Why would you hoist a tree that snapped off at the base????
The cause is obvious. As Congress has been unable to pass a budget for this year by the September 30th 2010 deadline the National Park Service has been forced into a hiring freeze. The person responsible for maintaining the tree left, and they haven't had the resources to replace him.
Well the little boy minded Neugebauer from Texas suggested that repairs to the white house be stripped from the budget I guess they won't have the money to do it. And OUR HOUSE, THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE will be let to fall in to disrepair according to this creep.
But then may he thinks that someone might buy a small oval rug like the one Laura Bush had made you know the one that cost $62,000. More than repairing and fixing the whole of the white house after Obama's family moved in. Gee what a creep..Oh I said that...
It wasn't the high wind but rather rather the giant suction from within the White House that toppled the poor thing! That combined with the continuous shoveling of bull crap out of the WH into the back lawn surely contributed to it's demise.
I cannot tell a lie. Obama cut it down.
I cannot tell a lie. Obama chopped it down.
I cannot tell a lite. Obama chopped it down.
Is this a permanent tree that just gets trimmed every year or is it one that is cut and shipped in annually? If the latter, I question why it is still up. In either case it must be George Bush's fault. 🙂
I wonder who's the blame for the wind storm and the tree being toppled over... the Dems or GOP....
Prolly Bush cut down Obama's Ramadan tree.
I somehow blame either the Bush Administration or the Obama Administration.
The National CHRISTmas tree topples on the same week that Obama stopped doctors and hospitals from exercising their conscience in refusing to provide abortions to those murdering mothers who want to kill their babies? This is no coincidence. God sees all that you and your democrat cohorts do, Obama. From your lying about your nationality, to your lipserverice to Christ when you really worship Allah, to your desire to destroy America, to your pursuit of socialism, God sees and does not approve! God works in mysterious ways, and his taking the CHRISTmas tree is his showing his displeasure, for those willing and able to see it. For shame! I can guarantee that that tree would still be standing were Sarah Palin president!
The tradition is 87 years old. This tree was planted near the White House in the 70's.
Wasn't really a Christmas tree anyway. Were Berry & Michelle able to recover the Mao Zedong commemorative ornaments?
Don't believe the White House spin. It was Soros, I actually observed him with a chainsaw laughing maniacally while lopping it. First this tree, then the government. Stage 1 is complete, God help us all.
Looks like a straight cut through the trunk to me, not the splinter break expected from tension fault. No matter. This country will soon erect a giant candy cane to welcome Santa Clause each year.
With all the blow-hards in Washington, it's a wonder there are any trees there at all.
High winds ? Was Limbaugh giving a speech nearby ?
No one has said it yet. It's Bush's fault.....
For the atheist / agnostic / christian hating crystal worshiping spiritualists: Enjoy your healthy helping of Karma.
Intresting..............Is this a sign our country is in major trouble? If it was no one would pay attention anyways The American people and Goverment get signs all the time and ignore the OBVIOUS, If Mankind were not so stupid:Signs would not have to be given and since they are,and since mankind ignores,that initself is stupid........The sign of the times are all around us (America) Wake up !
Thank you Michelle for the video on the ctahsimrs tree, i enjoined your commentry, was blown away with the scale of preparations especially sending th balls to every state to have them decorated thn getting all those voluntary helpers, it made me teary eyed, because this not a campaign stunt.. this is the heart of America, allowing the people to unite in a cause that benefits all, thn allow thousands to walk through the white house to see th ctahsimrs tree to me you show yourselfs to be truly for th people, may God bless th intent of your hearts and may he prosper you with continued wisdom to soar like the eagle, merry ctahsimrs happy holiday in Hawaii, our Prime minister Keys holidaying there as well
I'm sure that Fox will use this story to suggest that it's further evidence that Obama is the Anti-Christ, and I'm sure that its viewers will believe them.
Ah! all of you saying why was it not taken down. It was a live tree. You can not put it back up for those of you wondering if it can be hoisted.
And to all of you Christmas is a Pagan holiday and it if it was considered a Christmas tree, it was a phallic symbol so if you are christian you should not be worshiping it
CNN: "A phone call to the Park Service to determine if the tree will again be hoisted wasn’t immediately returned."
Uh.... I'm not an arborist, but looking at the tree, pretty sure it won't be hoisted again unless they own stock in Super Glue. Now, replanting a new one on the other hand... this one wins a journalism award.
So sad... my family has gone there every Christmas Eve after dinner since we moved to DC.
For those of you who don't know, this tree is live, and has been there for more than 30 years. The little trees around it representing all the states and territories are brought in yearly, but this thing stays put.
We've had high winds here (40 blocks north) but nothing that brought any trees down.
Oh, and that area on the Ellipse was never a swamp. It's landfill from approx. 150 years ago.
Looking closely at the stump.......it appears that......
there is a flat cut line on the left front....I believe that tree was at least weakened by a deep cut on that side.....and......it also looks like the tree was at least partially hollow...indicating some rot. But I don't have the facility to expand the view...I could be wrong.
A wind from Yahweh chopped down the national Ashurah pole maybe the national Baal pillar in the background will be next!
Somebody must have served Parkay at the WH and mother nature was angry.
Happened to be the exact time glen beck started talking.
Well why not? The humbug Scroogeian Obama administration practically canceled Christmas, so the Christmas tree decided to die and go to heaven where they don't mind celebrating Christmas at all. Plant a new one now and by next election it will already be well established and ready for a nice new president, an American one who has American traditions in his blood.
No better symbol for what Obama is doing to this great country.
OKAY AMERICA WAKE UP. DON'T BEL;IEVE ME JUST LOOK UP THE FACTS THIS IS IN OBAMACARE PUT THERE BY HIM. BACKED UP AND PROVEN.
Dhimmitude - What does it mean?
Obama used it in the health care bill.
Now isn't this interesting? It was used in the health care law.
Every day there's another revelation of what Obama and his fellow Democrats are doing to our country.
Dhimmitude - I had never heard the word until now. Type it intoGoogle and start reading. Pretty interesting. It's on page 107 of the healthcare bill. I looked this up on Google and yep, it exists. It is a REAL word.
Amish, scientologists, Christian scientists and Muslims are exempt ...ARE EXEMPT ...from the requirements of the health care bill. I think I could become Amish a whole lot easier than Muslim.
Word of the Day: Dhimmitude
Dhimmitude is the Muslim system of controlling non-muslim populations conquered through jihad. Specifically, it is the TAXING of non-muslims in exchange for tolerating their presence AND as a coercive means of converting conquered remnants to Islam.
ObamaCare allows the establishment of Dhimmitude and Sharia Muslim diktat in the United States . Muslims are specifically exempted from the government mandate to purchase insurance, and also from the penalty tax for being uninsured. Islam considers insurance to be "gambling", "risk-taking", and "usury" and is thus banned. Muslims are specifically granted exemption based on this.
How convenient. So I, as a Christian, will have crippling IRS liens placed against all of my assets, including real estate, cattle, and evenaccounts receivables, and will face hard prison time because I refuse to buy insurance or pay the penalty tax. Meanwhile, Louis Farrakhanwill have no such penalty and will have 100% of his health needs paid for by the de facto government insurance. Non-muslims will be paying a tax to subsidize muslims. Period. This is Dhimmitude.
Dhimmitude serves two purposes: It enriches the Muslim masters AND serves to drive conversions to Islam. In this case, the incentive to convert to Islam will be taken up by those in the inner-cities as well as the godless Generation X, Y, and Z types who have no moral anchor. If you don't believe in Christ to begin with, it is no problem whatsoever to sell Him for 30 pieces of silver. "Sure, I'll be a Muslim if it means free health insurance and no taxes. Where do I sign, bro?"
I recommend sending this post to your contacts. This is desperately important and people need to know about it–quickly!
coo-coo
Gaylon Barrow: Stop simply copy and pasting Internet rumors and do some REAL research!
! "Dhimmitude" DOES NOT appear in the Affordable Care Act! Go to http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr3590enr/pdf/BILLS-111hr3590enr.pdf and read for yourself! (It's in a PDF format; just do CTRL-F, type in Dhimmitude" and click return.)
(5) EXEMPTIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—
In the case of an individual who is seeking an exemption certificate under section 1311(d)(4)(H) from any requirement
or penalty imposed by section 5000A, the following information:
(A) In the case of an individual seeking exemption based on the individual’s status as a member of an exempt
religious sect or division, as a member of a health care sharing ministry, as an Indian, or as an individual eligible
for a hardship exemption, such information as the Secretary shall prescribe.
Sooooo, if you are a member of a Christian sect that does not believe in medical care (as some fundamentalists do), you are not required to buy it.
On page 108 is this info regarding citizenship status in order to get coverage under the Affordable Care Act. To sum it up, you have to have a Social Security card and proof that you are a citizen and that you are in this country legally.
(2) CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS.—
(A) COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY.—The Secretary shall submit to the Commissioner of Social Security
the following information for a determination as to whether the information provided is consistent with the information
in the records of the Commissioner:
(i) The name, date of birth, and social security number of each individual for whom such information
was provided under subsection (b)(2).
(ii) The attestation of an individual that the individual is a citizen.
(B) SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an individual— (I) who attests that the individual is an alien
lawfully present in the United States; or (II) who attests that the individual is a citizen
but with respect to whom the Commissioner of Social Security has notified the Secretary under
subsection (e)(3) that the attestation is inconsistent with information in the records maintained by the
Commissioner; the Secretary shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security the information described in clause (ii)
for a determination as to whether the information provided is consistent with the information in the records
of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(ii) INFORMATION.—The information described in clause (ii) is the following:
(I) The name, date of birth, and any identifying information with respect to the individual’s immigration status provided under subsection (b)(2).
(II) The attestation that the individual is an alien lawfully present in the United States or in
the case of an individual described in clause (i)(II), the attestation that the individual is a citizen.
I went to high school just south of DC in Alexandira, VA and I remember the very cold, dry, windy winters. We had a couple trees fall over in our yard one year; it can be pretty treacherous. I'm sure they'll put it to good use and get something planted soon.
It's amazing how posts regarding a tree go veering off in a whole other direction. It was neat to read that the tradition of lighting a tree in that location, or near to it, had been lit for 87 years. Very nice tradition. Sorry to hear that this 42 foot tree snapped in those high winds. There was no break around it thus the winds went through it. What a shame.
I hope the new tree resides in this location for the life of the tree.
Memo to DC botanists. There's a reason these trees naturally grow in "stands."
Must have been vandalized by a University of Alabama Crimson Tide fan.
A symbol of what BO is trying to do to our nation. Heed the warning America. Afterall, a Muslim does not observe the Christian holiday associated with a Christmas tree. Also, the rioting by the bottom-feeders in WI are exactly what a Marxist needs to take control of everyone. These dolts fail to realize that ultimately a totalitarian government will dictate what they get paid, how long they work or not and there is no bargaining within the same entity. The unions have become the foot soldiers of this wannabe dictator. BO, a product of a father who deserted him as well as a mother who chose to leave him in the care of others, is forever trying to form a connection with that father by following his hatred of the British, hating America and generally suffering a minority mentality. BO is not brilliant – he is dumb, but nevertheless dangerous in his focus to destroy our nation supported by enablers and their resources. Bottom line: he has to be thwarted at every turn and ultimately removed from office.
Is Obama going to appoint a Tree czar to oversee it's replacement? Maybe it will be a yóusōng.(Chinese Red Pine)
Perhaps everyone should conduct additional research on the matter of "Dhimmitude"
http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/exemptions.asp
I'll cheer when all reference to "The National Cathedral" is eliminated.
FWIW, the blue spruce is "designed" to grow as part of forest; when isolated, trees like this are very vulnerable to wind.
I do not understand why it is taking so long to moderate a simple comment with a quote from The Words of the Prophet Daniel in a society with Judeo Christian Heritage.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
The tree was 42 ( 6 sevens ) feet high and has been felled exactly 13 weeks from May 21, 2011, 6 weeks from now marks the Death of the Christ, April 1, Nisan 14, 33 AD, to pay for the sins of those who are to believe in Him and be saved. In the Book of Revelation we read that Babylon in the end will be destroyed, and so we are now in the end of days, as was foretold by the Prophet Daniel. Blessed is he who reads ( Matt 24:15)
Read the Prophet Daniel chapter 4.
1Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
4I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
5I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
9O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Let the wise understand this parable, and read verse 17 again. and again.
February 19, 2011 at 10:01 pm | Reply
@warntheworld; thankyou for your most beautiful, biblically based warning of the signs and wonders of the end-time. I study to show myself approved too, so I know that warning is true. I can only hope that the evil, petty ones of us on this blog and even the ones who are only readers of it, start trying to do the same thing and take heed to this great warning before the door is shut. They need to know that after all of this bigotted hell-raising, that 'the government shall be upon HIS shoulders'. THANK GOD!