Hallowe'en at the White House

Sun Nov 1 2009 16:28:46

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama invited over 2000 guests to the orange-lit White House for Hallowe'en celebrations.

The event, held to honour military families, saw children and their parents come from Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC to join in the festive fun.

The Obamas welcomed all the guests, giving out goody bags filled with a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses and a National Park Foundation Ranger activity book.

Mrs Obama wore furry cat ears and a leopard-patterned top while the children's costumes ranged from superheroes and pirates to fairies and skeletons.

The visiting children were chosen with help from the Education Department.

Obama thanked the military members and their families.

"We are so grateful to you," he said. "Especially now, a lot of the times, you guys are separated. It's tough. The spouses who are at home are serving just as much as folks who are deployed. So we are just so thrilled that you guys could be here and we could say personally 'thank you' to all of you."

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