Lantern Lighting Ceremony
Every year a 350-year-old stone lantern is lit in the Thomas Jefferson Tidal Basin. This formal ceremony commemorates the 1912 gift to Washington D.C. of 3000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to enhance the growing friendship between the United States and Japan. The event includes traditional Japanese performers, Washington dignitaries and the 70 Cherry Blossom princesses representing states, territories, and embassies. The lighting ceremony is held at the site of the first two cherry trees planted by Mrs. William Howard Taft and Viscountess Chinda in 1912. The Lantern ceremony is don't miss! Special thanks to Mark Rhoads of the National Conference of State Societies for his help with this gallery.
Location : Tidal Basin at Independence Ave. and 17 th St., SW.
|
Washington Toho Koto Society led by Mrs. Okamoto in the pale blue kamono.
7732 views
|
National Cherry Blossom Princesses - California Mary MacLean and Colorado Kathrine Baldwin
6067 views
|
National Cherry Blossom Princesses - Louisana Merideth Lehman, Maine Melissa Danforth, Maryland Kimberly Boukal
7210 views
|
|
National Cherry Blossom Princesses - Utah Jessica Ward, Virginia Christine Collins, West Virginia Emilee Romano
11560 views
|
National Cherry Blossom Princesses - Florida Rhea Chiles, El Salvador Nicki Aleman, District of Columbia - Shayna Rudd
7072 views
|
National Cherry Blossom Princesses - Louisanna Merideth Lehman, Lithuania Egle Janeliunaite, Illinios Emily Carlson (great grand neice to Mrs. Helen Taft)
7295 views
|
|
From left to right - Ambassador Ryozo Kato, Embassy of Japan, Congressman Faleomavaega, American Samoa, Master of Ceremonies Egils Milbergs, Chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin, and The Honorable Mark Rhoads
5882 views
|
Ambassador Ryozo Kato and Congressman Faleomavaega
5503 views
|
Kimiko Shimada of Cardinal Choir introduces Mayor Anthony Williams
6629 views
|
|
Cardinal Choir
5672 views
|
Joint Armed Forces Color Guard of the Military District of Washington enter the ceremony.
5540 views
|
Joint Armed Forces Color Guard of the Military District of Washington
6532 views
|
|
Joint Armed Forces Color Guard of the Military District of Washington display our National Flags with honor.
6286 views
|
Mayor Anthony Williams, NCSS President Tim Schlack
5090 views
|
Cherry Blossom Princesses sing the National Anthem
5343 views
|