Holidays at the White House 2012: The Gold Star Family Tree

Lea Prohov
December 11, 2012
11:00 AM EST

The Gold Star Family tree pays tribute to the Armed Forces and their families. It is decorated for the 2012 White House holiday season with special Gold Stars bearing the names of those who gave their lives for the country.

This holiday season, we pay tribute to our military families, service members, veterans, and their families, and remember how grateful we are for their courageous service, and we take time to honor their countless contributions to our nation. At the 2012 Holiday press preview, the First Lady remarked:

I have said this many times before and I will say it again, because I can't say it enough -- our military families truly represent the very best that this country has to offer.

The very first tree visitors see as they enter the White House is the Gold Star Family tree. Standing in the East Landing, the tree is brightly decorated with special Gold Star ornaments bearing the names of some of America’s greatest heroes—those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The walls in that room are adorned with wreaths crafted by volunteers using red, white and blue yarn.

All guests who come through the doors of the White House throughout the holiday season are invited to fill out an Operation Honor Card pledging to serve their community. They are also encouraged to write a note of thanks to these brave men and women and send the spirit and joy of the holidays to those who sacrifice so much for our country, something First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden invite all Americans to do on JoiningForces.gov.

See the complete 2012 White House Holidays coverage at WhiteHouse.gov/holidays.

To learn more: