Christmas Tree in House Chamber displayed until January 2nd
By Texas Speaker Joe Straus
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas In the middle of the Texas House Chamber on the Capitols second floor sits a 23-foot Texas-grown Christmas tree. The tree is decorated with ornaments collected through the District Ornament Project. My wife Julie began this project back in 2009 as a way to make sure that our entire state is represented on the House tree.
Each Member of the House commissions an artist (sometimes a professional sometimes a student) to decorate an ornament in a way that celebrates his or her House district. Year after year Julie has done
great work coordinating this project.
This year I asked local artist Cruz Ortiz to create an ornament celebrating San Antonios upcoming Tricentennial. The District 121 ornament features an artistic depiction of the Alamo as well as the numeral 300 in bright colors to celebrate San Antonios vibrant history.
The Christmas tree will be in the House chamber until January 2. If you visit the chamber before then you can flip through a book that explains the story behind each ornament and there is also a map to help you find your House district.
Every year
the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association delivers trees for the Capitol in a horse-drawn carriage. This years official Capitol ornament features a coachman with his white steed and carriage in order to celebrate the annual tree delivery. Proceeds benefit preservation of the state Capitol and educational efforts.
You can learn more the ornament or purchase it at this link.
Of course the holidays are about so much more than decorations. Members of my staff and others who work in and around the Capitol recently collected wrapped and donated gifts for children in foster care. Julie also leads this campaign which is called Holiday Wishes and works with Partnerships for Children which helps Central Texas children in need. I am grateful for the members of my staff and other legislators staffs who give so generously to this effort every year.
I know many of you are especially charitable at this time of year and I want to thank you for all that you do to help your fellow Texans. The people of this state have shown an overwhelming amount of
compassion and generosity during this year which has had no shortage of trying moments.
Now that the end of the year is approaching Julie and I would like to wish you and your family a very happy holiday season.
