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US First Lady Receives White House Christmas Tree

Saturday, November 28, 2009 WASHINGTON: U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama received the official White House Christmas tree on Friday.Mrs. Obama emerged from the White House to inspect the tree with daughters Sasha and Malia, after it was delivered on a horse-drawn carriage.The first lady could be overheard commenting that the more than 5.5- meter tree was the biggest Christmas tree the family has ever had.The tree comes from a West Virginia Christmas tree-farming couple, Eric and Gloria Sundback, who won a contest run by the National Christmas Tree Association to earn the honor.After presenting the tree to Mrs. Obama and having tea with her inside the White House, they described the experience as "wonderful" and "a thrill."The National Christmas Tree Association says this is the 4th time the Sundbacks have won and presented a tree to a U.S. first lady. The group says its members have presented the official tree for display in the White House Blue Room since 1966.

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