28 Comments

You didn’t answer #2

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It would seem that our National Christmas tree was not lighted until after Christmas (except for the top light) in 1979. Jimmy Carter left it dark in honor of the hostages in Iran...according to Wiki.

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Oh your aren't going to let us hanging on #2 are you!

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Answer to #2...My thought is December, 1941...and Roosevelt asked to have it lit later to boost morale during a very dark time in our history...

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No it was lit on Dec 24th. There was no lighting in the following war years, Though there were dedication ceremonies, the tree was not lit again until 1945. BTW Churchill was visiting DC at the time and both he and FDR addressed the crowd in 1941.

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I worked a jigsaw puzzle depicting the tree lighting in 1941, and I was stricken by the thought of what the mood would have been like so soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The nation had to be in mourning and apprehensive about the future. Churchill was probably the only ecstatic one in the crowd, because England would have help.

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My understanding is that FDR spoke, the Churchill, and then after the National Anthem was played the tree was lit.

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Thank you, Kevin.

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I think you, may be correct. Oh, that our leadership in the White House, do that this January.

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Please get us the answer for #2.

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Answer to question #2?

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I have to admit number two has me stumped. I could think of no instances, I even went back and checked, but could find no instances since Silent Cal put up the first public White House Christmas Tree. Itt was not lit in '42, '43,and '44, and was delayed in '63, but it was never lit later than Dec 24th. (Which was the norm for many years.)

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#2: 1963, December 22 was the lighting, normally on Dec 18. When JFK was assassinated on November 22, Johnson declared 30 days of mourning, which delayed the lighting.

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I thought of that, but the question specifically stated "after" Christmas. Many trees were lit as late as Dec 24th. In fact, that was the norm before Ike's presidency.

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Don't leave us hanging on #2! 😂🤯🤔🤣😊

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"The lights on the tree shone for 417 seconds, one second for every day that the hostages had been captive.The lights were then turned off, leaving only the star atop the tree shining.When the hostages were released on January 20, 1981, the tree was redecorated. It was relit for the returning hostages on January 27."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Christmas_Tree_(United_States)

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We knew you wouldn't let us hang

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So much food for thought Tara gotta love it 😀 😅 😍

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What a moving experience that must have been.

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The National Christmas Tree has been lit before Dec 25th since the inception in 1923 according to the National Park Srervice.

Do not confuse the National Christmas Tree lighting with the White House Christmas tree lighting.

https://www.nps.gov/whho/learn/historyculture/national-christmas-tree-history.htm

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The question is about the National Christmas Tree.

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I answered the first and third questions correctly

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Please answer #2.

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#2- I had to look up to be sure. The 30 day mourning period for JFK prompted LBJ to ask for a late lighting.

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But it was still lit before Christmas, not "after."

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You are right. I don’t know the answer. I hope Tara will tell us tomorrow.

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I'm stumped myself, not a situation I am used to.

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