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Christmas Pathway Of Peace

Every year one-of-a-kind ornaments are made by ordinary Americans to hang on 56 trees – one for every U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia – that surround the National Christmas Tree. Volunteers have given their time and talents to design and create tree ornaments that symbolize the history, heritage and culture of their homelands.

Below find the 2008 holiday ornaments. Check back soon to see the 2009 ornaments from every corner of our nation.

• Alabama

  Alabama

  • Sponsor: Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama
  • Theme: “Stars Fell on Alabama”
  • The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama, founded in 1901, is the the oldest Club in the Southeast.
• Alaska

  Alaska

  • Sponsor: Farthest North Girl Scout Council
  • Theme: Understanding and Respect
  • Ornaments were made in honor of the two Eskimo cutures in Alaska, the Inupiaq and the Yupik people, by Troop 39 of North Pole, Alaska.
• American Samoa

  American Samoa

  • Sponsor: Office of the Delegate from American Samoa
• Arizona

  Arizona

  • Sponsor: Metropolitan Phoenix Boys & Girls Clubs
  • Theme: “Angels Abound”
  • Each year, over 33 thousand children participate in programs supported by the Metropolitan Pheonix Boys and Girls Club.
• Arkansas

  Arkansas

  • Sponsor: Arc Arkansas
  • Theme: Reflection of our work
  • The Arc Arkansas is a non-profit organization supporting adults with developmental disabilities.

• California

  California

  • Sponsor: Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles
  • Theme: The character of California, the spirit of Girl Scouting and the theme of peace
  • The 2008 Pathway of Peace ornament represents more than 45,000 Girl Scouts from throughout Los Angeles County.
• Colorado

  Colorado

  • Sponsor: Smith Renaissance Elementary
  • Theme: Diversity with Snowpeople
  • Ornaments made by the schools 1st graders.
• Connecticut

  Connecticut

  • Sponsor: Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
  • Theme: Peace
  • The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center preserves and interprets Stowe’s Hartford home and the Center’s historic collections, promotes vibrant discussion of her life and work, and inspires commitment to social justice and positive change.
• Delaware

  Delaware

  • Sponsor: Art Therapy Express Program, Inc.
  • Theme: Our lives are enriched when we work together…
  • Ornaments were made with love by 40 children with cerebral palsy. Students with and without disabilities worked as a team to create these beautiful ornaments and new special friendships.
• District of Columbia

  District of Columbia

  • Sponsor: District of Columbia Society Children of the Revolution
  • Theme: Honoring those who have served our country so we can live in peace
  • The young Marine pictured is a CAR member currently serving in Afghanistan.

• Florida

  Florida

  • Sponsor: Judy Miner
  • Theme: Key West Light House
  • Ornament images are color copies of an original oil painting by the artist.
• Georgia

  Georgia

  • Sponsor: Cochran-Bleckley County Arts Alliance
  • Theme: Christmas in Georgia
  • Organized in 1990, the Cochran-Bleckley County Arts Alliance is an all-volunteer organization that serves the community and promotes and sponsors all types of art programs.
• Guam

  Guam

  • Sponsor: Anderson Elementary
  • Theme: Island Christmas
  • Ornament made from a styrofoam cup.
• Hawaii

  Hawaii

  • Sponsor: Susannah Wesley Community Center
  • Theme: Pele—Hawaiian Goddess
  • The Community Center represents a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural group of people who enjoy life through eating, learning and having fun!
• Idaho

  Idaho

  • Sponsor: Treasure Valley Family YMCA
  • Theme: Colors of Christmas
  • The YMCA serves members of Boise, Meridian, Kuna, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle and other surrounding areas. Ornaments were created by the Hunter Y's before and after school care program.

• Illinois

  Illinois

  • Sponsor: Oak Park Area Arts Council
• Indiana

  Indiana

  • Sponsor: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
  • Theme: Love
• Iowa

  Iowa

  • Sponsor: Helen Lemme Elementary School
  • Theme: The Heart of a Lemme Leopard

  • The Heart of a Lemme Leopard
    I am important
    I am a winner
    I am respectful to others
    I know that everyone is a little different and that’s okay
    I will do my part to make sure that everyone has a safe and happy day
    I will make the choice to do right
    I will make a difference in the world
    I am a Lemme Leopard!

    Go Lemme Leopards!
• Kansas

  Kansas

  • Sponsor: The Kansas Collection-Anita Wolgast and the Museum Store, Kansas State Historical Society
  • Theme: University of Kansas NCAA Basketball Championship in 2008
  • Ornaments were designed by Anita Wolgast in partnership with the Museum Store, and volunteers helped pack them in globes with decorative trim.
• Kentucky

  Kentucky

  • Sponsor: Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft
  • Theme: My Safe Kentucky Home
  • The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft worked together with the Center for Women and Families to create these ornaments. The ornaments draw on the Kentucky quilting tradition and state song “My Old Kentucly” to create houses which symbolize peace and safety in the home.

• Louisiana

  Louisiana

  • Sponsor: Louisiana Children’s Museum
  • Theme: Just when the Caterpillar Thought the World was Over, It became a Butterfly
• Maine

  Maine

  • Sponsor: The Giving Tree of Rangeley
  • Theme: Youth Angel for all of our Children
• Maryland

  Maryland

  • Sponsor: Monocacy Elementary Student Government
  • Theme: Peaceful Symbols of Maryland
  • 32 SGA students, from Kindergarten through 5th grade created ornaments representing peaceful places in Maryland.
• Massachusetts

  Massachusetts

  • Sponsor: Hospice & Palliative Care a program of the VNA of Southeastern Massachusetts
  • Theme: PEACE
  • The doves, representing the symbol of peace, were hand sewn by hospice volunteers. “We seek peace, knowing that peace is the climate of freedom” Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• Michigan

  Michigan

  • Sponsor: Freedom Village
  • Theme: “Pure Michigan”
  • Ornaments were made by 3rd grade students at Maplewood ES and their “adopted grandparents”, residents of Freedom Village of Holland retirement community. Age ranges from 8–95!

• Minnesota

  Minnesota

  • Sponsor: Bachman’s
  • Theme: Minnesota
  • Four different Minnesota themed ornaments were created by employees of Bachman’s Garden Center.
• Mississippi

  Mississippi

  • Sponsor: The Mustard Seed
  • Theme: Snowflakes
  • Ceramic snowflakes handpainted by a group of 37 special needs adults.
• Missouri

  Missouri

  • Sponsor: Rita Lynn O’hara, Stonewares
  • Theme: Winter Bluebird and Joy in Missouri / University of Missouri School of Journalism founded in 1908
  • 2008 is the schools 100th anniversary. Art for the ornaments were created by MO staff and University representatives.
• Montana

  Montana

  • Sponsor: Gallatin County 4-H Clubs
  • Theme: Montana
  • Ornaments were made by the many 4-H Club members in the area.
• Nebraska

  Nebraska

  • Sponsor: Omaha Children’s Museum
  • Theme: Celebrate our Diverse Communities
  • The Omaha Children’s Museum has been a special place where children can challenge themselves, discover how the world works and learn through play.

• Nevada

  Nevada

  • Sponsor: Osborne Family and Our Lady of the Snows School
  • Theme: Wild Horses
  • The Osborne Family and 3rd and 5th grade students at OLS created theses ornaments to increase public awareness about the state’s beautiful wild horses and their welfare.
• New Hampshire

  New Hampshire

  • Sponsor: Hampshire Pewter
  • Theme: Maple Sugaring
  • Maple Sugaring is as old as our country itself. While its origin is unknown, it is said to have been discovered by Native Americans. It was then shared with the settlers in northern New England. In New Hampshire, approximately 3.6 million gallons of sap are collected each year to produce 90,000 gallons of pure New Hampshire maple syrup.
• New Jersey

  New Jersey

  • Sponsor: The Newark Museum
  • Theme: Diversity of New Jersey and Representations of Peace
  • The ornaments use symbols of both New Jersey and peace and were made at the Newark Museum by family volunteers from Prudential.
• New Mexico

  New Mexico

  • Sponsor: Boys and Girls Clubs of Albuquerque/Rio Rancho
  • Theme: Christmas Pathway of Peace
  • All Club members were involved in creating this years ornament and learned about recyclable materials during the project.
• New York

  New York

  • Sponsor: St. Stephens-Bethlehem United Church of Christ

• North Carolina

  North Carolina

  • Sponsor: Discovery Place
  • Theme: North Carolina Peaceful Holidays
  • The Discovery Place staff members and students from Mecklenburg High School worked together to create the ornaments.
• North Dakota

  North Dakota

  • Sponsor: Minot Public Schools Community Learning Center
  • Theme: North Dakota Crystal Winter
  • Oraments were made by students ranging from kindergarten to 5th grade in the 21st Century Community Learning Center program.
• Ohio

  Ohio

  • Sponsor: Ohio Valley Quilter’s Guild
  • Theme: Quilted Christmas Ornaments
  • The Ohio Valley Quilter’s Guild helps to instruct members in methods of quilt making and to promote the study of historical sources of quilts.
• Oklahoma

  Oklahoma

  • Sponsor: Washington Elementary
  • Theme: Native American Peace Teepees
  • Ornament made of clay and ribbon.
• Oregon

  Oregon

  • Sponsor: Girl Scouts of Santiam Council

• Pennsylvania

  Pennsylvania

  • Sponsor: Springfield Middle School
  • Theme: Pennsylvania’s history, geography, inventions, symbols, landmark events, places and people.
  • Ornaments made by Dianne Carson’s 5th grade homeroom, a group of 26 ten and eleven year old students who studied American History and enjoyed demonstrating their knowledge through projects.
• Puerto Rico

  Puerto Rico

  • Sponsor: Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administaration and the Puerto Rico Department of Education
  • Theme: How Christmas is celebrated in Puerto Rico
  • Most ornaments represent the El Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos (the Feast of the Three Kings), when Melchor, Gaspar and Balthzar, the three Magi Kings, visited the Bethlehem manger where Jesus was born, bearing gifts.
• Rhode Island

  Rhode Island

  • Sponsor: Providence City Arts for Youth
  • Theme: "Quahog Winter Wonderland"
  • The quahog is Rhode Island’s official shell, a symbol of it’s proud history of fishing and positive growth.
• South Carolina

  South Carolina

  • Sponsor: Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
  • Theme: Christmas in the Low Country
  • Ornaments were made by hand therapy patients of the Hilton Head Hospital and the Bluffton-Oktie Outpatient Clinic. Occupational therapists have traditionally used crafts as a part of rehabilitation.
• South Dakota

  South Dakota

  • Sponsor: The Journey Museum
  • Theme: Black Hills Gold
  • The ornaments were made by staff and volunteers of the Journey Museum, a natural history and cultural museum.
• Tennessee

  Tennessee

  • Sponsor: Sycamore Elementary School
  • Theme: There’s “SNOW” Place Like Sycamore
  • The Tennessee ornaments were created from drawings representing cultural and historical facts of Tennessee. They were cut into the shape of children holding hands, representing our motto, “We are the World at Sycamore”.
• Texas

  Texas

  • Sponsor: San Antonio Children’s Museum
  • Theme: Yellow Rose of Texas
  • The yellow roses were made by the little hands of the students from St. Leo the Great Catholic School, and the ornaments were assembled by museum volunteers and students from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
• U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

  U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

  • Sponsor: Office of the Resident Representative
  • Theme: Christmas in the Islands
  • Office of the Resident Representative created these ornaments with help from Dandan Elementary School.
• Utah

  Utah

  • Sponsor: Springdale Elementary School
  • Theme: Utah State Flower, the Sego Lily
  • Students reproduced original designs, colored with a “stained glass effect”, of animals and plants found in Zion National Park.
• Vermont

  Vermont

  • Sponsor: Spaulding High School Army Junior ROTC
  • Theme: Christmas in Vermont
  • The ornaments represent common aspects of Vermont’s culture, ecomony and natural beauty including a maple leaf, moose, evergreen tree, mountain range, and snowflakes.

• Virgin Islands

  Virgin Islands

  • Sponsor: St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, Christev Designs and Mitchell-Larsen Studio STX
• Virginia

  Virginia

  • Sponsor: Elkton Centennial Committee
  • Theme: Shenandoah Valley
  • In celebration of Elkton’s 100th anniversary, the ornaments were crafted in a birthday theme.
• Washington

  Washington

  • Sponsor: Hilltop Artists in Residence
  • Theme: Winter/Holiday/Spirit Embracing Diversity
  • Organization uses glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures.
• West Virginia

  West Virginia

  • Sponsor: Mountain Artisans and Cabin Creek Quilts
  • Theme: Patriotism
  • Rebecca Stelling, owner of Cabin Creek Quilts and Mountain Artisans, created this ornament. Cabin Creek Quilts showcases and markets quilts and patchwork creations by West Virginia quiltmakers.
• Wisconsin

  Wisconsin

  • Sponsor: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

• Wyoming

  Wyoming

  • Sponsor: VSA-Magic City Enterprises
  • Theme: Wyoming Jackalope Christmas
  • The Day Habilitation program for adults with developmental disabilities helped to assemble these ornaments of the elusive and infamous WY jackalope.

Photographs by Joe Portnoy

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