Bushes Offer Greetings for the Season

Lighting the national Christmas tree Thursday, President Bush offered comfort to families grieving for loved ones lost in the terrorist attacks and those separated during the holidays by military assignments.

“In this season we celebrate with our families, and deeply miss family members no longer with us,” said Bush, bundled against the cold in an overcoat and Stetson. “Thousands of families in our nation are still grieving over the terrible losses that came to them last year on September the 11th.”

Many in the military are on duty far from home now, the president said. “They stand between Americans and grave danger. They serve in the cause of peace and freedom.”

The president and First Lady Laura Bush, assisted by two Washington-area 7-year-olds, then flicked a switch and a blaze of light illuminated the Colorado blue spruce that stands permanently on the Ellipse just south of the White House.

Earlier, Mrs. Bush showed off a White House dressed for the holidays in an elegant red-and-gold decor made whimsical by papier-mache likenesses of pets of presidents past.

Two dogs accompanied her Thursday as she showed off the holiday decorations.

For the Christmas season, Barney, the Bushes’ black Scottish terrier, has a tiny video camera affixed to his collar that will transmit pictures to the White House Web site as he pads around 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

“I brought my two animals out to talk to you about the Christmas decorations this year,” Mrs. Bush said as Barney and springer spaniel Spot snuffled around the trees. “Kitty [the first cat] wouldn’t come down, she’s a little too shy.”

For the 9,000 people who will visit for parties or tours, Mrs. Bush has transformed the East Room, Blue Room and State Dining Room into a red, gold and green wonderland with hundreds of poinsettia plants shaped into Christmas trees, topiaries of pomegranates, pears and magnolia leaves and garlands of large pine cones and crimson berries.

Towering firs drip with fragile gold globes, red glass icicles and specially commissioned ornaments representing birds from each of the 50 states.

Scores of tiny marzipan creatures -- including an alligator owned by John Quincy Adams and a flock of sheep that Woodrow Wilson kept to mow the executive mansion’s lawn -- grace the grounds of an edible White House made from 80 pounds of gingerbread, 50 pounds of chocolate and 20 pounds of marzipan.

Pastry chef Roland Mesnier usually takes about a month to put the annual centerpiece together.