2015 National Christmas Tree Lighting Will Be December 3

SOURCE: National Park Service

Thursday, October 08, 2015
NPF News
2015 National Christmas Tree Lighting Will Be December 3

TICKET LOTTERY OPENS OCTOBER 16

WASHINGTON (October 8, 2015) The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, are excited to announce the date for the 93rd annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on the Ellipse at President’s Park (White House). This year’s kick-off to the holiday season in our nation’s capital will be held Thursday, December 3, 2015, at 5 p.m. Free tickets for the lighting ceremony will be awarded through an online lottery.

The free ticket lottery will open at 10 a.m. (EDT) on Friday, October 16 and close at 10 a.m. (EDT) on Monday, October 19. To enter the ticket lottery, go to www.thenationaltree.org and click the ‘TICKET LOTTERY’ link. Those without computer access may call 877-444-6777 (TDD 877-833-6777).

The National Christmas Tree Lighting, presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, is a great example of the countless ways there are to find your park. Launched in March 2015, Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque is a public awareness and education movement to inspire people to connect with, celebrate, and support America’s national parks and community-based programs. Celebrating the National Park Service Centennial and setting the stage for the Service’s next 100 years, Find Your Park invites people to discover and share their own unique connections to our nation’s natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history.

Additional information including talent announcements and coverage logistics for news media will happen at a later date. For more information, visit www.thenationaltree.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 408 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.

The National Park Service has cared for the White House and its grounds since 1933. President’s Park, which includes the Ellipse and Lafayette Park, was officially included in the national park system in 1961.

Visit us at: www.nps.gov, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter: www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube: www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Voices of Vietnam, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about Vietnamese women who were raped and sexually assaulted by South Korean troops during the Vietnam War, today announced that Vietnamese survivors of rape and sexual assault at the hands of South Korean soldiers during the Vietnam War today sent a letter to Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye calling for an apology for crimes committed against them.

“We write you today because we fear that our stories will be forgotten. Decades have passed without a formal apology, acknowledgement, or reparations from your Government. Even so, the Government of Vietnam recently signed a trade agreement between our two countries, binding our futures while ignoring our shared painful past,” their letter stated.

“We and our sisters across the country, and our thousands of children and grandchildren face many challenges today, including in securing an education and finding work, and receiving the support of basic social services. Our experiences and struggles have been rejected for more than four decades by the people and government of Korea.”

“We survivors and Lai Dai Han also want to look ahead. While we are old, we want to have hope for the futures of children and grandchildren. We urge you to issue a sincere and deep apology for the crimes committed against us and our families and to consider reparations for the decades of hardship we have faced. With that, we wish to move forward with the dignity of recognition, and the support of those in a position to take responsibility.”

One signatory of the letter, Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet, started a petition on Change.org calling on President Park to apologize for the crimes committed against her by South Korean troops. The petition currently has over 26,000 signatures.

The full text of the letter, to watch their video testimonials and for more information, please visit www.VietnamVoices.org

Co-chaired by Former Congressman Anh (Joseph) Cao of Louisiana, the first Vietnamese-American member of Congress, and Cyndi Nguyen, Executive Director of VIET New Orleans, Voices of Vietnam provides a platform for those that have spent years in silence.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151012/276123LOGO

SOURCE Voices of Vietnam

RELATED LINKS
http://www.vietnamvoices.org/