Christmas trees, Boeing and volcanoes: How delegates promoted Washington state at RNC

Just in case the rest of the nation didn’t already think Washington state was basically a field of trees, Washington’s delegation to the Republican National Convention showed up Tuesday wearing ... green tree hats.

Washington’s delegates wore the tree-shaped hats on on the convention floor Tuesday while announcing the state’s vote for businessman Donald Trump.

All 44 of the state’s Republican delegates went to Trump, who officially became the Republican Party’s nominee for president Tuesday, the second day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Susan Hutchison, who chairs the Washington State Republican Party, also talked up Washington state as being the occasional source of the National Christmas Tree during her brief floor speech Tuesday.

“Madam Secretary, from the great state of Washington, the evergreen state, we are standing tall,” Hutchison said.

“Our beautiful state of volcanoes, the mighty Columbia River, vast wheat fields and yes, often the national Christmas tree, also the proud home of the Boeing airplane company celebrating its 100th anniversary this month, builders of the greatest jets in the world ... .”

“We are named after the first president of the United States and we are proud now to nominate for the 45th president of the United States, 44 votes for Donald J. Trump.”

Unlike the leaders of other states’ delegations, Hutchison made no mention of Washington state’s illustrious sports teams. (Didn’t the Seahawks win a Superbowl two years ago? Or did last year’s final play just make any Superbowl talk too painful? Nevermind.)

Hutchison’s speech was slightly less effusive than what came from the speaker for the Oregon delegation, who praised his home state as one of “unrivaled natural beauty,” as well as the home of “Tillamook cheese and hazelnuts,” “the Great American Pinot Noir,” and “ground zero in the fight against Democrat corruption.”

Also, Oregon gave shoutouts to MLS champions the Portland Timbers, the Oregon Ducks, and the Oregon State Beavers, among other sources of state pride.

But — did you see our tree hats, Oregon? Those were rad.

Weren’t they?

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 6:17 PM with the headline "Christmas trees, Boeing and volcanoes: How delegates promoted Washington state at RNC."