Castleton Staff Decks the White House Halls
Last month, Castleton’s Director of Upward Bound Jennifer Jones traveled to Washington D.C. to help deck the White House halls for the holiday season.
Jones was one of nearly 150 volunteers — and the only from Vermont — to take part in this annual tradition, dating back to 1973 when Richard Nixon’s wife invited volunteers from across the country to help decorate the People’s House.
The White House received the most applications ever this year, with 7,000 people hoping to help honor the unique heritage of America with this year’s theme, “American Treasures.” Hopeful volunteers must complete a short application and essay about why they would be a good fit for the experience. Interns from the White House Visitors Office read every essay and select the volunteers.
“In my essay, I mentioned the two deployments I had been through with my husband, his 31-year career with the Vermont Army National Guard, that I am a first-generation American on my mother’s side and that she had been a World War II refugee from the Soviet Union escaping communism, and that I work in TRIO Upward Bound,” Jones said.
The first day of decorating, Jones was assigned to “Team Twinkle” and spent eight hours at a government warehouse making bows, dusting off and repairing ornaments from previous years, and helping to select decorations.
“Team Twinkle was one of three teams which would be working in the warehouse that day, but then moving the White House to put lights on 55 natural trees in every public room and the residence,” she said.
The next day, Jones and her crew began lighting trees around the White House, including two 17-foot tall trees, which took five hours for two teams of six people to fully light.
While decorating, Jones and the other volunteers were informed that the President and the First Family would be leaving the property on Marine One shortly to begin the Thanksgiving holiday, and Jones took a seat in the Red Room to get a glimpse of the President, his wife, and children.
On Jones’ third and final day at the White House, she worked on lighting more trees. At the end of the day, volunteers were treated to a special tour, including viewing the Diplomats Reception Room and the Rose Garden. Some volunteers returned after Thanksgiving to decorate and place the final touches.
All volunteers were invited to a reception hosted by the First Lady, which Jones attended. The event included performances by the Marine Corps Band, sightings of White House Staff including Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and closing remarks from the First Lady. Jones and other volunteers were able to admire the Gold Star Tree for fallen military members, the National Christmas tree donned in 500 feet of blue ribbon, the 40 trees covered in real cranberries in the colonnade joining the East and West Wings, and other décor that makes the White House a magical place during the holiday season.
