American trucker says transporting Capitol Christmas tree 3,000 miles to Washington, DC, is ‘huge honor’

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An American truck driver has embarked on across-country journeyin honor of a special Yuletide delivery.

Arizona native Michael Porter is bringing holiday cheer to Washington, D.C., by transporting the annual Christmas Tree to the U.S.Capitol — just as two truckers, Alaska natives John Schank and Fred Austin, did last year.

This year’s tree was selected fromNevada’s National Forests.It’s traveling nearly 3,000 miles from Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, plus making 12 stops along the way — all so that Americans have a chance to see “the People’s Tree.”

flatbed truck.

American truck driver michael porter with us capitol christmas tree selfie

Arizona truck driver Michael Porter is shown embarking on an epic 3,000-mile journey to deliver the Capitol Christmas Tree, named “Silver Belle,” from Nevada to Washington, D.C.(Swift Transportation)

“I left to go to Reno to pick up the tree, and I found out exactly what I was going to be doing and how big of a deal it was,” said Porter.

“It’s definitely a huge honor to represent Knight Swift and justtrucking in generalwith a project of this size.It’s an honor to do something like this.”

“It was amazing to see everyone come together and create this.”

Porter has been driving trucks for seven years.

“Behind the scenes, there was a lot of work — planning the route, planning the stops, our permits.Just everything that makes all of this happen without a problem,” he said.

Michael porter in nevada snow forrest with us capitol christmas tree

Michael Porter has been driving trucks for seven years.(Swift Transportation)

He said there was a “a really big turnout” at a lot of the stops he made.He said he was “pulling into these whistle stops and having the big crowds — and everybody was cheering, smiling and having a great time.”

Porter said he’s seen people standing on bridges along the route to see the truck pass by.While he’s on the highway, he’s had passersby honk at him and give him a thumbs up.

He listens to a lot of ’90s country tunes, he said, to help the time pass.

“We had plenty ofChristmas music at the event,” he said.

“So I stayed away from the Christmas playlist,” he joked.

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lit For Holiday Season

The tree will make a stop at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before its arrival at the Capitol’s West Lawn on Friday.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The 55-year tradition of theCapitol Christmas Treebegan when then-Speaker of the House John McCormack, D-Mass., placed a live Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn, according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture.

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Each year a different national forest is selected to provide “the People’s Tree,” all part of an annual campaign to celebrate national forests.

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The tree will stop at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before its arrival at the Capitol’s West Lawn on Friday.

Ashley J.