Halls invited to tree lighting

    Celebrating Christmas can be difficult by itself, let alone compounded with a sensation of emptiness. Carter and Mary Hall know all too well that feeling, as do others within the greater Houlton area who have lost loved ones this past year.
    On Dec. 6, the Halls were invited to the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony of the National Park Service Foundation at the Whitehouse.
    “It was a national park event,” said Mary Hall. “They mentioned our son’s heroic effort in the June rescue.”
Carter and Mary Hall
    The park foundation made the arrangements for the Halls to fly from  Bangor to Washington, D.C., with accommodations at the Madison Hotel.
    “We were escorted to the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, one block from the White House, known as the Crown Jewel of Pennsylvania Avenue, which has been the center of the social and political life in Washington D.C. since it first opened in 1818,” explained Hall.    
    The Park foundation members and guests gathered at the hotel to receive credentials before the ceremony.
    “As a group, we walked to the ceremony site, President’s Park (a national park) and were ushered to our seats, which we discovered later where four rows behind President Obama and the First Family,” added Hall.
    The President of the National Park Service, Neil Mulholland introduced the Halls and honored their late son, Nick Hall, by declaring his dutiful and selfless service in the mission of the National Park Service Mountain Rescue and loss of life in the performance of his duty.
    Secretary of the Interior, Cabinet Member Ken Salazar also spoke followed by several entertainers including The Fray, James Taylor, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Colbie Caillat and Phillip Phillips, 2012 American Idol winner who all were accompanied by the U.S. Navy Band Commodores.
    Michelle Obama and Rico Rodriquez, star of “Modern Family,” read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to the children attending.
    Following the service, the park foundation entourage and guests returned to the Willard Hotel for a reception.
    “We spoke to President of the National Park Service, Neil Mulholland,  Secretary of the Interior, Cabinet Member Ken Salazar. Mr. Salazar acknowledged and consoled our loss and shared his experiences of visits to Maine,” Hall said.
    The next day, the Halls toured the White House and saw the First Dog, Bo, run by them upon entering, followed by three Secret Service men.
    “We also visited The Ford Theater, the FDR Memorial and the Martin Luther King Memorial along with lunch and dinner with National Park Foundation Board members,” added Hall.
    “We are very appreciative of the experience,” she added. “We are grateful for the honor given to our son, Nick, in such a prestigious setting.  However, it was all especially bittersweet.”