It was a cold winter night and all were in anticipation for the annual lighting of the White House National Christmas Tree ceremony put on by the Obamas on Thursday, December 6, 2012. The President, along with First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia, gave the countdown as the crowd waited anxiously to see the decorations of this year’s tree. Sasha,11, and Malia,14, had the great honor of turning on the lights, making the holiday season at the White House complete.
During the celebration, which featured several performances from the music industry’s finest, President Obama took time to remember victims of Hurricane Sandy. “Now, we know that some of our neighbors to the north saw a more ruthless and destructive Sandy,” the President told the crowd. “This holiday season is especially difficult for families who lost everything in the storm. But it’s also a time for us to be grateful for the heroism and perseverance of ordinary men and women in the storm’s path who’ve showed us that Americans will always be stronger than the challenges that we face. And as I did before Thanksgiving, I can’t help but tell a story of their enduring holiday spirit.”
Jason Mraz and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds were among several to perform at the tree lighting ceremony. This year’s Christmas tree was laced in small red and green lights with medium-sized white stars throughout. The large yellow star was placed atop the tree.
Photos: AFP
