Manchin

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., hosted a video call with more than 1,500 West Virginia students to encourage them to apply to the U.S. Service Academies.

The students are from 54 West Virginia schools. Manchin answered students’ questions about the application process

Students interested in applying to a U.S. Service Academy can submit an application to Manchin’s office by Oct. 1.

“Attending a U.S. Service Academy is a privilege reserved for the best and brightest young men and women across our country,” Manchin said.

“West Virginians have a long history of bravely serving our nation, and I was honored to speak with so many of our students today about the great opportunities at a U.S. Service Academy.

“These students are the future of the Mountain State, and I applaud their interest in serving our country. I look forward to nominating the most qualified candidates to these prestigious academies, where I know they will make our state and country very proud.”

Also, Manchin, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has announced an essay contest for West Virginia fourth graders as part of the celebration of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

The Capitol Christmas Tree — known as “The People’s Tree” — lights up the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol during the holiday season and is selected from a different national forest each year. This year, the tree will come from West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest.

“The Capitol Christmas Tree is a wonderful, historic tradition that brings our great country together during the holidays, and I am thrilled that the 2023 tree will be from West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest,” Manchin said.

“This essay contest will allow one outstanding fourth-grader to take part in the official tree-lighting ceremony in Washington, which will showcase not only our remarkable forestry, but also our strong community spirit. I’m grateful to the Forest Service for their hard work and partnership on this celebration, and I can’t wait to read about what our Wild and Wonderful home means to young West Virginians across the Mountain State.”

Students are invited to describe in 500 words why they love West Virginia’s forests and public lands, incorporating the theme of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree: “Endlessly Wild & Wonderful.”

Manchin will select one student from statewide submissions to receive a once-in-a-lifetime all-expenses paid trip for the winner and one guardian to travel to Washington, D.C., in late November or early December to take part in the official tree-lighting ceremony, alongside members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the public.

The student will be invited to attend several other festivities during their visit and may have an opportunity to read their winning essay publicly.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service selects a national forest to provide the Christmas tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, a tradition that began in 1970 when Monongahela National Forest provided the first tree on behalf of the Forest Service. Monongahela National Forest also provided the tree in 1976.

This year, the tree will be harvested in Randolph County from the Greenbrier Ranger District and will travel around West Virginia throughout November before heading to Washington.

More information on the essay contest:

• Contest open to all fourth-grade students who are residents of West Virginia.

• Essays should be no more than 500 words, submitted to uscapitolchristmastree.com/essay

• Include the name of the student; parent’s email address; name of the student’s teacher and principal; and name, address and phone number of the student’s school.

Submit essays by Sept. 26. The winner will be announced in early October.