http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19290972

San Jose trucker driving nation’s official Christmas tree from California to Washington D.C.

Slender and clean-shaven, Duane Brusseau won’t be mistaken for Santa Claus as he drives across America this month to make a special Christmas delivery.

But the 65-year-old retired truck driver from San Jose is sure to bring some holiday joy all his own as he guides a new Mack truck splashed in green and red from Sonora to the nation’s capital.

Brusseau has the unique job of hauling a 60-foot Sierra white fir from the Stanislaus National Forest outside of Sonora to Washington D.C., where it will take its place this holiday season as the “People’s Tree” on the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Along the way, Brusseau and an entourage, including wife Bobbie and armed federal agents, will stop at a number of small towns and big cities to show off the tree at parades, swap meets and skating rinks.

“I feel fortunate to have this” job, said Brusseau, who is a volunteer driver. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To tour the country for a worthy cause and meet all these people and make a lot of little kids happy, it’s kind of overwhelming.

“I’m really thrilled about this whole thing.”

The holiday tour unofficially kicked off Saturday as the 118-year-old tree was paraded through downtown Sonora hours after being cut down.

As part of a seven-day trip through the state, the caravan will tour the Central Valley, beginning with stops Tuesday in Oakdale and Manteca, before heading south Friday from Fresno on Highway 99.