Easter at the White House 2009
Bringing Children of Fallen Heroes to the Four Seasons for a Specially Catered Lunch and to the White House Easter Egg Roll
On Easter Monday, April 13th, 2009, The Spirit of Liberty Foundation, working with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (T.A.P.S.), had the privilege of bringing children of Fallen Heroes, members of our Armed Forces killed while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, and their mothers to the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC for a special lunch and to the White House for the Easter Egg Roll.
We arranged for two buses to drive the children around on Easter Monday. The children were first brought to the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC for a fabulous lunch full of children’s favorites including hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and two full tables of desserts. The Spirit of Liberty Foundation provided each child with a hat and duffel bag printed with “Easter at the White House” to serve as mementos of this once-in-a-lifetime trip to our Nation’s Capital. Each of these duffel bags was stuffed with T-shirts and toiletry items that were donated to us for the children.
As part of this event, the Spirit of Liberty Foundation commissioned an artist named Zoey Stevens to paint an original work of art depicting President Barack Obama. The painting was displayed during lunch at the Four Seasons and every child in attendance signed the back of the painting in red and blue markers. We’re currently working with the White House to arrange a mutually convenient time for T.A.P.S. to have the children present the painting to the White House.
After lunch, the children were bused to the White House for the Easter at the White House Celebration. On the White House lawn, the children enjoyed live music, photo ops with the Easter Bunny and other costumed characters, egg painting, activities designed to promote physical fitness, live entertainment and, of course, the famous Easter Egg Roll.
Click here to view a scan of the commemorative ticket for the Easter at the White House Celebration.
Click here to view a scan of the front page of the official Easter at the White House program.
The entire day was a smashing success that brought smiles to the faces of every child of a Fallen Hero that we were able to bring to this magical day in Washington, DC.
