Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, President Barack Obama and a group of Cody Development Center children all had one thing in common the week of Dec. 3.
All lit a ceremonial holiday tree during first full week of December.
While Boehner oversaw the ceremony on the capitol lawn Dec. 4 and Obama led the tree-lighting countdown on Washington D.C.'s, ellipse Dec. 6, CDC kids assisted Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and Military District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington in the switch-flipping Dec. 5 at the corner of Lee Avenue and McNair Road near joint base headquarters.
Before inviting Jalayah Chatman, Nancy Steel and Logan Curran to the electrical switch of honor, Linnington asked the crowd to involve servicemembers in their lives this December.
"As you spend time with your Families this holiday season, I ask that you think of those who are deployed and I ask that you think of those that were wounded or lost their lives in this past year in service to our country," Linnington said during brief remarks before the lighting. "I'd also ask that as you rally around those Families that are left here in the United States as their Soldiers are deployed, [and] invite them into your homes to spend a special meal or holiday treat with you. Share the camaraderie of the holiday season and invite them to be part of your Family."
Also joining the trio of kids in the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall annual holiday tree lighting center of operations was impromptu guest 4-year-old Saron Walelign while a red-suited special guest, Santa Claus, waited in the wings on Lee Avenue with an escort courtesy of The Old Guard Caisson Platoon.
After the lighting of the 25-foot evergreen tree, Santa, Linnington, Deputy Commander Col. Jennifer Blair along with kids, parents and pets moved to Brucker Hall for hot chocolate, cookies and verbal consultations and pictures with Saint Nicholas.
The U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) Brass Quintet provided pre-ceremony holiday music which included "O Christmas Tree," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Feliz Navidad" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".
JBM-HH Chap. ( Lt. Col.) Clyde Scott delivered the invocation during the 15-minute celebration.
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