Wreaths Across America Honors Our Veterans (photo gallery)
• December 20, 2012

More than 110,000 wreaths, donated by Wreaths Across America, were laid at Arlington National Cemetery Dec. 15 for the 21st annual event. About 27,000 volunteers helped place the wreaths throughout the cemetery. Morrill Worcester, president of Worcester Wreath Company, based in Harrington, Maine, started this annual event in 1992 to honor our nation’s fallen heroes. Morrill marked a special milestone Saturday by presenting the program’s one millionth wreath to Gold Star mother Mary Byers, whose son, Army Capt. Joshua Byers, was killed in Afghanistan in 2003. Participating in the ceremony were: Wayne Hanson, chairman of the board for Wreaths Across America; Kathryn A. Condon, executive director, Army National Cemeteries Program; Maine Gov. Paul LePage and his wife Ann; Rear Admiral Harold L. Robinson, a rabbi and former chaplain; and Lt. Col. Thomas Helms, the senior Army Chaplain at Arlington National Cemetery. Country artists Lindsay Lawler and Chris Roberts sang “God Bless America.”

View our photos by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="101108,138390,138396,138404,138410,138417,138424,138432,138438,138446,138454,138462,138470,138478,138486,138494,138500,138384,138376,138370,138531,138524,138290,138519,138296,138514,138302,138309,138316,138322,138330,138336,138342,138350,138356,138363,138507" nav="thumbs"]

Santas Descend on the Washington Mall for Santarchy 2012 (photos)
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We caught up with Santarchy on the steps of the National Museum of Natural History Dec. 15. Santarchy takes place every year in major cities all over the world, involving tens of thousands of Santa Clauses. They are a self-described “non-profit, non-political, non-religious and non-sensical celebration of holiday cheer, goodwill, and fun. There is no good reason to dress up in cheap Santa suits, run around town, give gifts, sing songs, have strangers sit on our laps, and decide who is naughty or nice — but it’s a lot of fun. So, Santa does it anyway. Everyone loves Santa, and Santa loves everyone. Santarchy is your chance to be Santa, so step up and be jolly.”

View the Santas by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="101109,138586,138593,138600,138606,138613,138620,138626,138633,138640,138646,138578,138571,138564,138677,138520,138672,138528,138665,138536,138660,138543,138550,138556,138654" nav="thumbs"]

Capitol & Union Station Tree Lightings (photos)
• December 13, 2012

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony took place on the West Front Lawn on Tuesday December 4. In 1964, House Speaker John W. McCormack suggested to J. George Stewart, Architect of the Capitol, that a Christmas tree be placed on the Capitol Grounds. The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has provided the trees since 1970. This year’s tree is a 73-foot Engelmann Spruce from the White River National Forest, near Meeker, Colorado. The tree was decorated with thousands of ornaments handcrafted by the people of Colorado. The tree will be lit from nightfall until 11:00 PM each evening through December 26. The tree arrived and was erected on the Capitolg grounds on November 26 after completing a 5500 mile journey. The lead truck was piloted by former United States senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Ryan Shuster, a senior at Discovery Canyon Campus in Colorado Springs, pushed the button to light the tree.

The Norwegian Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Union Station was also held on Tuesday, December 4th. True to tradition, the Royal Norwegian Embassy gave a Christmas tree to the people of Washington, D.C. as a symbol of friendship between the United States and Norway. It also expresses Norway’s gratitude for assistance received from the United States during and after World War II. The Children’s Chorus of Washington performed. Due to damage to the building from the August 2011 earthquake, Union Station is currently under construction and seasonal decorations are limited. The Norwegian Christmas tree could not be erected inside the station this year, so the lighting ceremony was held outside the West Hall, on the porch facing 1st Street by the west exit of the Union Station Metro station.

View our photos by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="137621,137538,137532,137526,137519,137512,137506,137499,137492,137486,137546,137554,137614,137607,137600,137594,137587,137580,137574,137567,137560,137478,137472,137464,137380,137372,137366,137628,137360,137633,137353,137638,137643,137388,137395,137458,137450,137444,137438,137430,137424,137416,137410,137402,101084" nav="thumbs"]

The Georgetowner’s Holiday Benefit & Bazaar 2012
• December 11, 2012

Join us for a Golden Opportunity to give with an evening of shopping and holiday cheer as we honor and support a Gold Star in the Community:

The Georgetown Senior Center

Shop for unique gifts from select vendors.Warm your senses with seasonal cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Gather in the joy of giving this holiday season.

HISTORIC GEORGE TOWN CLUB
1530 WISCONSIN AVENUE NW

Tickets can now only be purchased at the door for $65

“HEART OF GOLD” HOST COMMITTEE

Lolly Amons | Joe Clarke | Michele Conley | Michele Evans | Jade Floyd | Jeanne Jennings

KristaJohnson | Cami Mazard | Victoria Michael |Nancy Miyahira | Bob Pincus | Lesley Steiner

“GOLDMINE” BAZAAR SHOPS

Ella Rue | Queen Bee Jewelry | Sentsy | Ibhana | Georgetown Tobacco | Traci Lynn Jewelry

Kamisol Accessories | J McLaughlin | Georgetown Paperie | Homayoun Yershalmi | Stella & Dot |Chloe and Isabel

Cocktail Attire or “Golden Best”

Cocktails provided by Beam Global Spirits

Georgetown Ministries Coat Drive Location

[gallery ids="101002,133435,133443,133451,133459,133466,133474,133481,133489,133498,133427,133418,133409,133534,133369,133527,133377,133520,133385,133513,133394,133402,133505" nav="thumbs"]

President Obama Speaks on Veterans Day at Arlington Cemetery (photos)
• November 26, 2012

Fresh off of his election victory on Nov. 6, President Barack Obama opened his Veterans Day address at Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 11 with these words. “Each year, on the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause –- as a nation, and as a people –- to pay tribute to you. To thank you. To honor you, the heroes, over the generations, who have served this country of ours with distinction.”

View our photos of this solemn event by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="101052,136779,136786,136793,136800,136806,136814,136822,136830,136838,136772,136766,136759,136871,136865,136859,136720,136852,136727,136734,136742,136752,136845" nav="thumbs"]

Washington International Horse Show (Photo Highlights)
• November 9, 2012

The Washington International Horse Show, one of the leading equestrian events in the country, celebrated its 54th year Oct. 23 through 28 at the Verizon Center, attracting leading horses and riders from around the world with more than $400,000 in prize money. Eighteen-year-old U.S. Olympian Reed Kessler took the major prize with a top finish in the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix on Saturday night. The $25,000 Open Jumper Puissance was the highlight class of the preceding evening with a win for 19-year-old Belgian rider Olivier Philippaerts and horse Chicago VH Moleneind. They were the only horse and rider out of six entries to clear a wall of seven feet in height.

View our photo album of the main events of the show by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="101034,136144,136137,136130,136123,136116,136109,136100,136094,136158,136087,136163,136080,136169,136070,136175,136151" nav="thumbs"]

Affirmative Action Brought Before Supreme Court (photos)
• November 6, 2012

The Supreme Court heard a challenge to its long-standing ruling that race may be considered as a factor in the college admissions process (affirmative action) on Oct. 10. Justices debated the case of Fisher v. University of Texas. A white student, Abigail Fisher, brought the case after her application to the University of Texas-Austin was rejected in 2008. In her lawsuit, she questioned whether the university’s admissions system uses race unnecessarily. The outcome could have major implications for higher education.

View photos of the activity outside the Supreme Court Building by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="101017,135570,135562,135554,135548,135542,135534,135526,135583,135589,135517,135594,135599,135576" nav="thumbs"]

Marion Bryce Award
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Bessie Phillips receives the Marion Bryce Award for Volunteer Service from Michael Kahn, the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company, at the Sidney Harman Hall in Washington on Aug. 23.

Washington Savoyards present The Rocky Horror Show (photo gallery)
• October 31, 2012

Let’s do the Time Warp again. “The Rocky Horror Show” is here just in time for the Halloween season in a fresh production from the Washington Savoyards. This is the live pop musical version that inspired the cult film hit, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. The musical by Richard O’Brien tells the story of a newly engaged couple who get caught in a storm and are forced to seek shelter in the castle of a mad transvestive scientist and his new creation, a muscle man named Rocky. Like the movie, playgoers are encouraged to shout out their favorite one-liners during the performance.

Performances of “The Rocky Horror Show” run through Nov. 4 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St., NE, in the revitalized Atlas District, just north of Capitol Hill. Visit www.savoyards.org to learn more about the show and to buy tickets.

View our slideshow by clicking the images below. [gallery ids="101030,135908,135914,135922,135929,135936,135943,135950,135958,135964,135900,135892,135886,135994,135988,135850,135983,135857,135978,135864,135872,135879,135971" nav="thumbs"]

Navy Memorial Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary (photos)
• October 24, 2012

The U.S. Navy Memorial celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a special dinner held at the Edison Electric Institute and 701 Restaurant on Oct. 12 that was followed up the next day with a special rededication ceremony held on Memorial Plaza. Special guests included Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathon W. Greenert; Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Michael D. Stevens; William Conklin, Architect of the Navy Memorial; and veterans of the USS Davis who presented a wreath in memory of those who served.

The U.S. Navy Memorial, between 7th and 9th Streets on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., honors the men and women who have taken the oath to defend the Constitution of the United States by serving in the sea services. The Navy Memorial includes both a commemorative public plaza and a Naval Heritage Center. The plaza is a round ceremonial amphitheater paved in granite to form a 100-foot diameter of the world. Surrounding the deck of the plaza are fountains, pools, flagpole masts and sculptural panels depicting historic achievements of the sea services. A symbolic statue of a lone sailor stands watch near the edge of the plaza.

View pictures of the event by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="101021,135673,135681,135690,135697,135704,135711,135718,135725,135732,135739,135746,135666,135660,135653,135778,135604,135772,135766,135760,135612,135620,135626,135633,135640,135646,135753" nav="thumbs"]