Main Content

Media Contact

For all media inquiries and image requests:

press@whha.org.

Quantico, VA

The White House Historical Association will host a commemorative event at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia where the Marine One BuNo 147161 helicopter that President Dwight D. Eisenhower utilized while in office is housed. President Eisenhower was the first sitting president to fly in a helicopter, using both Marine and Army detachments. This year, the White House Historical Association’s 2019 Official White House Christmas Ornament is in the image of these helicopters.

EVENT SPEAKERS:

Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association

Benjamin Kristy, Aviation Curator, National Museum of the Marine Corps

Col. Kevin Wild, Retired HMX-1 squadron pilot

WHEN:

Thursday, October 3, 2019; 11-11:45AM

WHERE:

Leatherneck Gallery, National Museum of the Marine Corps

18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Quantico, VA

WHAT:

  • The White House Historical Association, National Museum of the Marine Corps and Sikorsky will talk about the significance of Eisenhower’s use of the helicopter as a mode of transportation and Sikorsky’s history of building the presidential helicopter.
  • Former HMX pilot, Col. Kevin Wild, will talk about his personal experience transporting the President.
  • The White House Historical Association’s President Stewart McLaurin, will present a 10’’ model of the Official White House Christmas Ornament to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Sikorsky and Col. Kevin Wild

This event is free and open to the public.

If you are interested in covering this event as a member of the press, please contact Jessica Fredericks, Director of Communications, at JFredericks@whha.org.

See High-Resolution Images of President Eisenhower and the 2019 Official White House Ornament.

The Official White House Christmas Ornament can be purchased online at shop.whitehousehistory.org. The Ornament is also available at the National Museum of the Marine Corps Museum Store (18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, #5 Triangle, VA 22172).

Other places to purchase the 2019 Official White House Christmas Ornament:

The Association’s White House Visitor Center Flagship store (1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006) and the White House History Shop (1610 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20006).

About the Official White House Christmas Ornament

Since 1981, The White House Historical Association has designed and manufactured the Official White House Christmas Ornament. All ornament sales support the non-profit, non-partisan mission of the White House Historical Association to protect, preserve, and provide public access to the history of the White House. The Official White House Ornament is American-made by a veteran-founded company. Each year the Ornament commemorates a president’s time in the White House or significant White House event.

P.D.F. Resources

Download the PDF

About the White House Historical Association

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $115 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.

To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.