Silent governor dedicates Capitol Christmas tree

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A couple dozen preschoolers sang Christmas carols while Gov. Bob Holden stood silently. Then the children placed hand-made ornaments on a tree -- and yet Holden uttered not a word. For Wednesday's annual dedication of the Capitol Christmas tree, Holden's presence had to suffice.

Suffering from a bad case of laryngitis, the governor let first lady Lori Hauser Holden handle the official remarks.

The children didn't seem to mind. Their focus, after all, was on the 8-foot-tall white pine for which they had spent the past two weeks crafting more than 120 ornaments.

More than 25 preschool students from Special Learning Center in Jefferson City did the ceremonial tree decorating. The United Way-backed center serves about 130 students with and without disabilities up to age 6.

"This is a very special way for the state of Missouri and for all of our citizens to be able to celebrate the holiday spirit," Lori Holden said.

The Christmas tree was picked from Santa's Christmas Tree Farm operated by the Schmitt family of Liberty.

The Schmitt's family earned the honor for the 13th time when their tree was named top tree in August by the Missouri Christmas Tree Producers Association.