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Mrs. Cheney Helps Top Nat'l Christmas Tree

Posted on: Tuesday, 23 November 2004, 15:00 CST

WASHINGTON - Lynne Cheney and her three granddaughters rode 40 feet into the sky Tuesday to top the National Christmas Tree, kicking off the White House holiday season.

As "Jingle Bells" and "Joy to the World" played below, the vice president's wife and the three young girls waved to a crowd of about 200 from a cherry-picker. Peter Nostrand, president of the Christmas Pageant of Peace, did the actual topping himself, placing the double-layered white and clear plastic star onto the tree.

The Colorado Blue Spruce, which stands about 40 feet tall and sits permanently in the Ellipse that surrounds the White House, will be illuminated by President Bush in a ceremony on Dec. 2.

The topping ceremony was, appropriately, to the point. Mrs. Cheney made no comments afterward, and quickly left after posing for a few pictures with volunteers and her granddaughters, Kate, 10, Elizabeth, 7 and Grace Perry, 4. This was Mrs. Cheney's fourth time topping the tree.

Transplanted from a Pennsylvania farm in 1978, the tree is decorated this year with oversized, white patriotic stars similar to ones on the American flag.

Volunteers and employees of the National Park Service, students from three area schools and friends and family gathered for the event under an overcast sky.

The tradition marks the start of the Christmas Pageant of Peace, which celebrates the season until Jan. 1. Surrounding the tree are 56 smaller ones, each representing one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories. Veterans groups and churches around the country will send ornaments to decorate the trees.

The trees will be on display through Jan. 1.

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Christmas Pageant of Peace: http://www.pageantofpeace.org/

National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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