Virginia City Fourth Grader to Light Nevada’s First U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
When fourth grader Grady Armstrong found out he had won the 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest, the surprise in his Hugh Gallagher Elementary classroom was unforgettable.
“I was very excited and confused,” Grady said. “And my friends were cheering, and they kept congratulating me.”
For his mom, Rhianna Armstrong, a strength and conditioning teacher at Virginia City High School, the moment was unforgettable.
“I was speechless. He wanted it SO badly,” said Rhianna. “When your kid wants something that much, you’re just so hopeful — and when it happens, it’s pure joy. His dream came true.”
Grady’s essay, chosen from more than 250 entries, celebrates the beauty, life, and history of Nevada’s public lands.
But Grady first set out to enter the contest with a very practical goal: a family trip to Washington, D.C.
“He got into the car when he found out about the contest and said, ‘Mom, I want to do this, and I want to win the contest, because then the whole family gets to go on the first airplane ride,’” Rhianna recalled.
However, his essay quickly became more than a ticket to the nation’s capital — it’s a reflection of Grady’s love for Nevada’s public lands and the adventures he shares with his family.
This year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, Silver Belle, will be harvested from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, marking the first time a tree from Nevada will be featured at the nation’s capitol.
Grady even mentions the national forest in his essay:
“You don’t need to go far to enjoy Nevada,” Grady wrote. “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.”
His words bring to life the places he loves, painting a picture of Nevada’s public lands through his own eyes:
“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,” he wrote.
He described some of his favorite spots like Mount Rose and Arc Dome, the Sheldon Antelope Refuge, and the Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary, where “the night sky is so dark you can see millions of stars!”
Even closer to home, Grady and his family find adventure, which he describes in his essay:
"Last month, we went to the top of Mount Davidson and watched the sunset over the sierras and at the same time, howled at the full moon as it rose over the Nevada landscape."
Those experiences and discoveries are what Grady hopes to share as he prepares for his biggest adventure yet: lighting the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
“I’m excited to go to Washington, D.C., because that would be pretty cool, and I’m excited to light the Christmas tree,” Grady said. “But more importantly, to just tell everyone how important Nevada's public lands are and how much wonder there is out here.”
His dad, Brent Armstrong, a firefighter with North Tahoe Fire, said Grady’s love for writing has always been clear.
“He has a journal that comes on every camping trip. He’ll sit in his bunk and write stories. At school, he and his friends just write on their own — not assignments, just stories they make up,” Brent said.
Rhianna added, “The one incredible thing about Grady is when he decides he wants to learn or do something, he takes no time just to immerse himself and make it happen.”
Brent reflected on the trip to Washington D.C. and the broader significance for the family, including Grady’s sisters, Hadley and Paisley:
“This is a very moldable moment for the children…to walk the nation’s capital at this age, where they are just incredibly inspired. Hadley and Paisley are equally as talented, and they get to be a part of this and walk the nation’s capital on such a cool stage on behalf of Nevada.”
For Rhianna, seeing her son achieve this at the school she attended as a child made the moment even more meaningful.
“It’s really cool for me as a mom to watch Grady being surprised in his classroom — that’s the school I grew up going to,” she said.
Through his essay and his own words, Grady hopes one thing is clear:
“Nevada is not just a desert; it’s full of life, history, and beauty. I think everyone should know how important it is to enjoy and protect these amazing spaces.”
