Jerome and Sharon Rossow of Lincoln with their blue spruce in the Capitol Rotunda.

A 21-foot blue spruce from the south Lincoln yard of Jerome and Sharon Rossow arrived in style at the Nebraska State Capitol on Tuesday, Dec. 4, and quickly was hoisted in place in the Capitol Rotunda.

A tree lighting ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, and the Rossows say they will be there. The event is sponsored by Pinewood Bowl Inc. The Rossows stood by Tuesday as the tree was lifted to the steps outside the north entrance, maneuvered through the doorway, and slid across the marble floor.

“It’s wonderful,” Jerome said about their tree being selected from among many offered to the state for the holidays. “It’s great,” said Sharon. The tree came from their yard at 2915 Coronado Drive. When the family moved to the property 11 years ago, the tree was about 8 feet tall, and they remember their 6-foot-5 son, Andy, decorating the tree with lights. The tree sadly had outgrown its space and was growing too close to another tree. “It must have liked the clay soil,” Jerome said.

Craig Kreiner, head of grounds for the Capitol Building Division, said he looks at every tree offered to the Capitol for the holiday season. In making his selection, he examines the size of the tree as well as the density and size of the branches to determine if crews can get it through the north door, and he studies location to determine if crews can get into the property to cut it down. He also looks for form. He has chosen concolor fir and Douglas fir as well as blue spruce.