Friday, October 23, 2009

2009 White House Christmas Tree Selected

It may be a new administration in the White House - but some things never change. Continuing a long-time tradition (since 1966 in fact), White House staff selected the Blue Room Christmas Tree earlier this week.

Director of the Executive Residence and White House Chief Usher Stephen Rochon and Superintendent of Grounds Dale Haney traveled to Shepherdstown, W.V., to handpick a beautiful 18 1/2-foot Douglas-fir. This tree will be transported to the White House and presented to First Lady Michelle Obama around Thanksgiving by Christmas Tree growers Eric and Gloria Sundback.

The Sundbacks earned this honor by winning the National Christmas Tree Association's (NCTA) national Christmas Tree contest held in August 2009 in Chattanooga, Tenn., and becoming Grand Champion.

Eric and Gloria are no strangers to the White House Christmas experience. This will be the fourth time that the couple has won the contest and presented a tree to the First Lady.

Learn more about the Sundbacks and the Blue Room Christmas Tree at http://www.christmastree.org/whitehouse.cfm.

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