Media General News Service
Email to a Friend
Stumble It!
WASHINGTON -- In the grandeur of the White House, a fifth grader from Culpeper said it was "scary" to make a speech in front of first lady Laura Bush and dozens of other guests.
But Carlynn Walker, 10, persevered through the "nerve-racking" experience Monday in the East Room.
Her teacher at Culpeper's Pearl Sample Elementary School, Alicia Marsh, chose Carlynn to introduce a woman portraying Dolley Madison, the wife of America's fourth president, James Madison.
The ceremony was to debut a new gold coin featuring Dolley Madison that is part of a series honoring first ladies.
Mrs. Bush's office asked the school to provide a student to take part in the ceremony because Marsh had taken her class on field trips to Montpelier, James Madison's home near Orange, Va.
"I felt Carlynn would be able to speak well and be able to handle it and not be so nervous," Marsh said. The girl did not let her down.
The day began at 5 a.m. outside Pearl Sample as Marsh's fifth graders, Carlynn's mother, Anne Walker, principal Karie Lane and assistant principal Catherine Timmons, boarded a school bus for the White House.
Carlynn had labored over her speech with Marsh and Timmons.
"We took a few days beforehand to talk to the class about Dolley Madison and the U.S. Mint and what the ceremony was about," Marsh said. "We put together a combination of ideas and passed them on to Mrs. Timmons who helped Carlynn put it together."
The Dolley Madison coin is part of a series that eventually will include all of the wives of the presidents. The politically correct Mint is calling it a "first spouse" series. The 24-carat gold coins have a face value of $10, but sell this year for $509 or $529, depending on condition.
For two days, Carlynn went over and over the words until she had memorized the 90-second speech. She brought a printed copy, just in case, as she was escorted to empty seats in the front row.
The East Room is the largest in the White House. Here presidents since John Adams have hosted receptions and held news conferences. Large crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling and portraits of George and Martha Washington hang on one wall.
Dolley Madison is best known for rescuing George Washington's portrait as the British burned the city during the War of 1812.
Wearing a black polka-dot dress with a white sweater, Carlynn sat alone in the front row for a minute or two. A Marine in formal uniform whispered to her. Then Laura Bush was announced and everyone rose. The first lady sat on Carlynn's left and the Dolley Madison impersonator sat on her right.
Carlynn said Laura Bush was "nice," although she said they did not talk much. The first lady spoke about the role of presidential wives in history, especially Dolley Madison.
"Mrs. Madison's bravery in the face of British troops earned her the love and respect of her fellow citizens - and a permanent place in American history," Mrs. Bush said.
Edmund Moy, director of the Mint, introduced Carlynn as "a student who loves social studies, plays the trombone and loves horseback riding, tennis and gymnastics." Clutching her speech, Carlynn stepped up to the podium without hesitation.
She said that after Dolley Madison saved Washington's portrait, she left the White House front door open so the British wouldn't break it down. Carlynn also told some "fun things" about Dolley Madison.
"She loved to give parties at the White House, was the first woman given the name, 'first lady,' was the first woman to serve ice cream at the White House, and she and Mr. Madison owned a macaw named Polly that liked to chase children around."
Then Carlynn introduced Dolley Madison, played by Lucinda Frailly, who sashayed to the podium dressed in a golden gown with a matching turban decorated with peacock feathers.
When the program was over, Carlynn and the rest of the Pearl Sample contingent were ushered out of the East Room, but their day was not over. They got a tour of the public rooms on the main floor, looking at the portraits of the presidents they had studied. They stood outside to watch President Bush depart on the Marine Corps helicopter. Then they were treated to fruit, cookies and juice in the State Dining Room.
Exiting the Southeast gate, the children ran toward their school bus, waving souvenir White House napkins, Carlynn in the lead.
Asked about the helicopter, students Emma Benson, Sam Stephenson and Kendall Coley exclaimed almost in unison, "It was like a giant leaf blower."
For Carlynn's mother, the end of the festivities was a relief and a source of pride.
"I think I was the nervous one," Anne Walker said. "It was quite a feeling to see your child sitting next to the first lady. This was an experience to treasure."
As the children clamored aboard the bus, Lane, the principal, said, "To visit the White House and watch it through a child's eyes is amazing."
But Carlynn Walker, 10, persevered through the "nerve-racking" experience Monday in the East Room.
Her teacher at Culpeper's Pearl Sample Elementary School, Alicia Marsh, chose Carlynn to introduce a woman portraying Dolley Madison, the wife of America's fourth president, James Madison.
The ceremony was to debut a new gold coin featuring Dolley Madison that is part of a series honoring first ladies.
Mrs. Bush's office asked the school to provide a student to take part in the ceremony because Marsh had taken her class on field trips to Montpelier, James Madison's home near Orange, Va.
"I felt Carlynn would be able to speak well and be able to handle it and not be so nervous," Marsh said. The girl did not let her down.
The day began at 5 a.m. outside Pearl Sample as Marsh's fifth graders, Carlynn's mother, Anne Walker, principal Karie Lane and assistant principal Catherine Timmons, boarded a school bus for the White House.
Carlynn had labored over her speech with Marsh and Timmons.
"We took a few days beforehand to talk to the class about Dolley Madison and the U.S. Mint and what the ceremony was about," Marsh said. "We put together a combination of ideas and passed them on to Mrs. Timmons who helped Carlynn put it together."
The Dolley Madison coin is part of a series that eventually will include all of the wives of the presidents. The politically correct Mint is calling it a "first spouse" series. The 24-carat gold coins have a face value of $10, but sell this year for $509 or $529, depending on condition.
For two days, Carlynn went over and over the words until she had memorized the 90-second speech. She brought a printed copy, just in case, as she was escorted to empty seats in the front row.
The East Room is the largest in the White House. Here presidents since John Adams have hosted receptions and held news conferences. Large crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling and portraits of George and Martha Washington hang on one wall.
Dolley Madison is best known for rescuing George Washington's portrait as the British burned the city during the War of 1812.
Wearing a black polka-dot dress with a white sweater, Carlynn sat alone in the front row for a minute or two. A Marine in formal uniform whispered to her. Then Laura Bush was announced and everyone rose. The first lady sat on Carlynn's left and the Dolley Madison impersonator sat on her right.
Carlynn said Laura Bush was "nice," although she said they did not talk much. The first lady spoke about the role of presidential wives in history, especially Dolley Madison.
"Mrs. Madison's bravery in the face of British troops earned her the love and respect of her fellow citizens - and a permanent place in American history," Mrs. Bush said.
Edmund Moy, director of the Mint, introduced Carlynn as "a student who loves social studies, plays the trombone and loves horseback riding, tennis and gymnastics." Clutching her speech, Carlynn stepped up to the podium without hesitation.
She said that after Dolley Madison saved Washington's portrait, she left the White House front door open so the British wouldn't break it down. Carlynn also told some "fun things" about Dolley Madison.
"She loved to give parties at the White House, was the first woman given the name, 'first lady,' was the first woman to serve ice cream at the White House, and she and Mr. Madison owned a macaw named Polly that liked to chase children around."
Then Carlynn introduced Dolley Madison, played by Lucinda Frailly, who sashayed to the podium dressed in a golden gown with a matching turban decorated with peacock feathers.
When the program was over, Carlynn and the rest of the Pearl Sample contingent were ushered out of the East Room, but their day was not over. They got a tour of the public rooms on the main floor, looking at the portraits of the presidents they had studied. They stood outside to watch President Bush depart on the Marine Corps helicopter. Then they were treated to fruit, cookies and juice in the State Dining Room.
Exiting the Southeast gate, the children ran toward their school bus, waving souvenir White House napkins, Carlynn in the lead.
Asked about the helicopter, students Emma Benson, Sam Stephenson and Kendall Coley exclaimed almost in unison, "It was like a giant leaf blower."
For Carlynn's mother, the end of the festivities was a relief and a source of pride.
"I think I was the nervous one," Anne Walker said. "It was quite a feeling to see your child sitting next to the first lady. This was an experience to treasure."
As the children clamored aboard the bus, Lane, the principal, said, "To visit the White House and watch it through a child's eyes is amazing."