RENO, Nev. – Amidst much fanfare and a celebration on early Friday at the Reno Tahoe International Airport, Grady Armstrong boarded an airplane for Washington, D.C., where he will be reading an essay he wrote at the lighting of the 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Grady, who won the state-wide essay contest, is the son of North Tahoe Fire Division Chief/Fire Marshal Brent Armstrong.
As part of winning the contest, the young man could take three other family members on a free Southwest Airlines trip to Washington. He will be reading his essay alongside the U.S House of Representatives Speaker, Mike Johnson.
The Capitol Christmas Tree, the “People’s Tree”, was cut down near Mt. Rose at Lake Tahoe and was the first one that traveled to Washington, D. C. from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the State of Nevada.
The 53-foot red fir, affectionately nicknamed “Silver Belle,” took part in the Nevada Day Parade and toured the state before heading to the Capitol for this week’s lighting ceremony.
Portions of Grady’s winning essay:
“You don’t need to go far to enjoy Nevada. Right from my school playground you can look east for hundreds of miles over the mountain ranges that make up the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.”
“I want the country to know how special Nevada’s National Forests and Public Lands are. These lands are full of wonder from big animals like elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and moose to small animals like fish, lizards, and birds. Hiking with my family, I’ve seen water bubble out of the earth in places that look super dry. These springs give life to so many plants and animals. Sometimes you can find arrowheads near the springs, a reminder of the life they gave tribes that lived off the land.”
Silver Belle will be lit during the Capitol Christmas Tree ceremony on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 5 p.m. on the Capitol West Lawn. For more info, see here.
The 103rd National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will feature another tree and will take place on the Ellipse at the White House and President’s Park on December 4, 2025. Great American Family will air the special on Friday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. ET.