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Dec. 5 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden wished Americans merry Christmas Thursday evening as he participated in his final national Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The commander-in-chief led to crowd at the White House's Ellipse in Washington, D.C., in a countdown that concluded with the more-than-2.5 miles of lights adorning this year's National Christmas Tree blinking to life.
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Biden then gave brief remarks, in which he said the 35-foot-tall red spruce Christmas tree embodies the spirit of this year's White House holiday theme of peace and light.
Before exiting the stage, he said: "May I wish for you and the nation -- now and always as we continue to seek the light of liberty and love, kindness and compassion, dignity and decency -- merry Christmas, America."
This year's tree hails from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia, according to the National Park Service, and took its place in the spotlight as one of the United States' most prominent and traditional symbols of Christmas in the nation's Capitol.
From the middle of the Virginia forest to the center of national attention and anticipation, the tree made its prime-time debut Thursday evening surrounded by show business stars, including Adam Blackstone, Stephen Sanchez, James Taylor, Muni Long, Trombone Shorty, The War And Treaty, and Trisha Yearwood, according to a National Christmas Tree Lighting release.
"The tree stands as a daily reminder of the holiday spirit and of this cherished national tradition," the release said.
The tree is adorned with one-of-a-kind ornaments made by Americans representing every state and territory, as well as the District of Columbia.
The National Christmas Tree has been a tradition for more than 100 years. For the last half century, the National Christmas Tree has been selected from one of the United States' 154 National Forests.
The National Christmas Tree lighting stretches to 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge walked from the White House to the Ellipse to light a 48-foot fir tree boasting 2,500 electric red, white and green bulbs, as a local choir and a quartet from the U.S. Marine Band performed.
This was Biden's final National Christmas Tree lightning ceremony prior to leaving office. He said the event is one of his wife Jill's favorites, but regrets that she could not be there because she is in Qatar discussing women's health issues.
CBS will rebroadcast the tree lighting ceremony on December 20th.
The ceremony follows the annual Christmas tree lighting at Manhattan's Rockefeller Center a day prior and the lighting of Capitol Christmas on Tuesday.
