By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

PICTURED (L to R): Locals Connie Cochran, Starr Mitchell, and Alice Pettyjohn attended a reception with the First Lady after assisting in decorating the White House for Christmas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three local women were among those to participate in decorating the White House for Christmas this holiday season.

Starr Mitchell, along with Alice Pettyjohn of Alice Circle and Connie Cochran, submitted her name and was selected to join hundreds of others in the decorating process.

"This was definitely an experience I will never forget," said Mitchell. "It was absolutely surreal to be in the White House decorating for the First Family this Christmas."

After the decorations were completed, First Lady Melania Trump held a reception for all the participants.

"Going in to this, I thought we were only decorating The White House for Christmas," said Pettyjohn. "When we arrived there, the gravity of what we were doing hit me. We were trusted with the honor of spending four days, in the most secure place I’ve ever been, getting ready for one of the largest events that occurs at The White House."

This year's Christmas theme at the White House was "American The Beautiful." The centerpiece of the decorations is an 18 1/2 foot Fraser Fir from West Virginia.

"It was an honor to be trusted to decorate the People’s House," said Cochran.

"From coast to coast, the bond that all Americans share is an appreciation for our traditions, values, and history, which were the inspiration behind the decorations this year," said First Lady Melania Trump. "Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who worked to make sure the People’s House was ready for the holiday season."

Last year, this same lucky trio also won a contest to open a pop-up shop in Auburn, rent-free throughout the 2019 Christmas season.