Author Topic: Tree of Hope Ceremony (Read 1213 times)

Jeff · « **on:** November 14, 2001, 02:56:57 pm »

I had been waiting for this day for months; since first being approached by the Michigan Forest Resource Alliance to represent them on the planning committee for the Tree of Hope. The day "The Big Tree" as many of us fondly called it, Michigan's gift to the nation, would start its journey towards Washington D.C. to become the first holiday tree of the new millennium.

The name "Tree of Hope" was selected well over a year ago. Long before the events of September 11th that would add more meaning to this name and this gift then any of us could ever imagine.

The location of the tree was kept pretty hush-hush right up till the morning of the cutting ceremony but through a little detective work, my friend Ada and I were able to find it the evening before. It was a perfectly shaped 74 ft tall White Spruce standing guard over a 60 year old rangers station just outside of Watersmeet. The huge crane that was already on location to support the tree as it would be cut did not diminish the scale of the big tree at all. It was Magnificent.

The morning of the cutting ceremony was actually pretty mild for the 13th of November in the western U.P.; in the 40s, overcast with just a very light mist. By the time we had arrived at the tree site, a large tent had been erected containing a large scroll to be signed by visitors sending best wishes and greeting to our country. Folks from the length of our state will be signing this scroll as the tree makes its community stops. After taking a few pictures, I took my place to await the cutting.

Now, I could tell you about each step of the ceremony, about how the tree of hope logo was chosen, about the thanks to those of us that worked towards this day, or the dignitaries that attended, or even the ceremonial cuts, but to me, that part is kind of a blur. What I want to tell you about are the memories that I will hold and never forget. They start with the first actual cuts on the tree by two members of the Michigan Professional Loggers Counsel, Tom St. John and Jim Carey.

I don't know if all of you know this, but when cutting the holiday tree, it is attached to a crane by a heavy strap to keep it from crashing to the ground and being damaged. From my vantage point, the crane was directly behind the big tree and quickly became just part of the background, and unnoticed.

Tom St. John began taking down the big tree by making the first cut deep into the trunk, this took a few moments because this tree is very large, with a trunk diameter of over 36 inches. After removing his saw from the cut, Tom turned the job back to Jim Carey. Jim continued the cut on through the tree, The technique was not that of a typical notch, as this tree was not going to fall, but a simpler cut meant to separate the tree from its trunk.

As Jim's saw grew closer to the opposite side of the tree he paused, motioning the crane operator to put a little more lift pressure on the tree, then continued with the cut.

Now, I don't know exactly how to explain this to you, but I will try. You almost had to be there and hear the chainsaw and the sounds of the people as they anticipated what this mighty spruce would do as it was freed from the ground.

This Tree of Hope, suddenly but slowly, rose from the ground from which it stood for 67 years. It made a very small but dramatic movement towards the old Ranger Station bringing excited sounds from the watching crowd. It then straightened itself, and became motionless appearing to float a few feet off the ground. Just hovering there for all of us to admire.

I thought, how appropriate, the "Tree of Hope"

RavioliKid · « **Reply #1 on:** November 14, 2001, 04:49:46 pm »

It sounds like it was a wonderful ceremony!

I should be coming through Kalamazoo next week. I hhope I get to see it on its way to D.C.

(Nice photos, too!)

Tom · « **Reply #2 on:** November 14, 2001, 05:07:52 pm »

Good reporting, Jeff. I feel as if I were there.

Glad I didn't have to separate if from the ground. Trees are supposed to fall not jump up into the air. Don't know how I would have acted.

Gordon · « **Reply #3 on:** November 14, 2001, 08:43:02 pm »

Well Jeff this well be something that you will tell your grandchildern. So many memories will blend into each other in years to come, but I believe this one will stand very well on it's own.

Think about it, how many people in the USA actually see the once a year cutting of the tree. Not very many. I would feel honered to have been there as well. As I know you and everyone there was. Not only to witness but to have taken part of the TREE OF HOPE.

Thanks for the step by step rundown of the morning.

May the tree have a safe trip to the capitol, oh and by the way I'll let u know what it looks like once it gets to the captial of the great ole USA

Gordon

CHARLIE · « **Reply #4 on:** November 15, 2001, 08:04:47 am »

Hmmmmmm....74 foot tall.......67 years old (I'm assuming you counted the rings)........uhhhhhhh let me see now...uhhhhhhhhhhhh

That white spruce grew on an average of 1.1044776 feet per year.

Should that be entered into the "Fastest Growing Tree" thread? I wonder, what is the average age a white spruce would live if never cut down or diseased? Was this 74' tree middle aged or old? How big would a white spruce get if it lived and grew, in good soil and light conditions, until it died of old age? Huh? :-/

Jeff · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2001, 04:41:47 pm »

I counted nothing. Stats came from forest service. A little over one foot a year would not come anywhere near a record. Heck, Don't loplolly sometimes grow over 3 foot a year?

This is a Forester Question, let me outahere

Tom · « **Reply #6 on:** November 15, 2001, 05:22:43 pm »

Loblolly is quick.

I was over at a friends house last spring when he put a seedling in a wet spot. I was trying to get the truck started and when I turned around he was hanging from his Bib Overalls. He must have hit a rich spot because that Loblolly shot through the suspenders on the left side and he was hanging at an ungodly angle about 4 feet off the ground. I had a six foot step ladder in the truck which I quickly got out and it's a good thing too because by the time I got it set up he could just barely reach it with his tippy toes.

Jeff · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2001, 04:48:24 pm »

My family and I just returned from Cadillac's community stop of the Tree of Hope. Wow, what an inspirational, spiritual, and patriotic evening. If each community does half of what Cadillac you won't want to miss one if you can make it.

Rav, you cannot miss Kalamazoo! Tonight several of us were unexpectedly honored and presented with a framed print that was created for the project. It's beautiful. I will be going to Standish tommorow from 4 til 7. If any of you can make it I recommend going. I don't know what Standish has planned but it will be worth the drive from where ever.

Here is a picture of the print I received. You can buy them on the tree of hope website at http://www.holidaytree2001.org

RavioliKid · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2001, 05:26:10 pm »

Jeff,
That print you got sure is a beauty!

I just checked in over at the Tree of Hope website, and it doesn't look like anything is planned for Kalamazoo. At least, there were no details given, unlike cities such as Cadillac and Lansing.

Could it be that the tree is just going to slip through town?

I'd like to go see it - and maybe even take a kid or two, if there was going to be anything to see.

(Anything besides the tree, that is.)

Kim

Ron Scott · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2001, 05:33:54 pm »

Yes, Cadillac did have a crowd. A well done event from what I saw of it.

It would be neat to get to the Washington DC party the evening of the lighting at the Capitol.

Jeff · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2001, 05:34:22 pm »

Kim, many of the communities are still putting the final touches together. I am sure Kalamazoo is having some sort of shindig. I was at Standish today and will probably go to Lansing Wednesday afternoon. I think I am getting tired...

Should go to Frankenmuth tomorrow but I can't. I would think they might have beer!

CHARLIE · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2001, 09:08:27 am »

Frankenmuth? Don't you mean Frankenfurter?

Gordon · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2001, 01:31:03 pm »

Frankenmuth, has chicken beer.

Gordon

Texas Ranger · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2001, 07:10:29 am »

Tom, I didn't know you were a Texan!

Texas Ranger · « **Reply #14 on:** November 21, 2001, 07:15:56 am »

Jeff B.

Yep, loblolly can do that. I have seen lob stands 12 years old at 50 feet, and 12 year old stands at 12 feet.

Some times it is not real fun being a forester, when you plant that 12 foot stand.

Tom · « **Reply #15 on:** November 21, 2001, 07:37:07 am »

That's when you take an axe to them Don. Funny how trees will do that. They can turn a lifetime of education into an embarassment.

You Texan guys take those down for toothpicks, don't you?

Reminds me of a cartoon I saw recently:

A fellow was standing in front of a table of his peers making a financial report on the success of his company. In the background was a chart that in one year had sharply gone to the bottom and them risen again to the general line of success. He was pointing to this line and saying "you'll notice the sharp loss in '88...that was the year we bought another tree."
At the top of the page was the company name. Acme Toothpicks Co.

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