A Washington tradition rolls on
Egg roll cracks into 134th year
WASHINGTON — The traditional White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday featured 30,000 children and parents; more than 100 musicians, athletes, chefs and costumed cartoon characters; dozens of egg hunts and other games; and some friendly bantering between the first couple of the United States.
“My job is very simple,” President Obama said in welcoming his guests. “It is to introduce the powerhouse of the White House — the one truly in charge, as Malia, Sasha and Bo all know — the first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.”
“Thanks, honey,” the first lady replied with just a hint of mock sarcasm. Later, she got her husband back, saying he planned to join in the egg rolling. “I think the president is going to try to beat a 3-year-old — which I hope he does not,” she said.
She dedicated the egg roll with this year’s official theme: “Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move!” In welcoming guests to the White House, she cited the presence of such athletes as tennis great Chris Evert and the Harlem Globetrotters.
The first family, accompanied by the Easter Bunny, strolled around the South Lawn, greeting visitors as a military band played Easter Parade. During a stop at the reading stage, Obama maintained his tradition of performing Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are, complete with roars and teeth gnashing. Dog Bo joined in with some barking.
Daughters Malia and Sasha took turns reading from the children’s book A Sick Day for Amos Mcgee, and the first lady read from The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear.
The White House Easter Egg Roll has been a Monday-after-Easter tradition for 134 years.
In recent weeks, the White House distributed more than 30,000 tickets to lottery winners from all 50 states.