In 1935 my wife's grandmother, Althea Swinford Hutton, published a book of poetry dedicated to her daughter, Virginia.  Her husband, Hubert Hutton  worked as an assistant to the honorable Fred M. Vinson who served in all three branches of the government, eventually becoming Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  One of the poems from Althea's book memorializes Virginia's participation in the Easter Egg Roll on the Whitehouse lawn.  Virginia just turned 94 this year.  She vaguely remembers participating in the event when she was about 5 years old, maybe 1928.  She has given me permission to reprint the poem here in honor of this long-standing White House tradition.

EASTER ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN

by Althea Swinford Hutton

When the President entertains us

Upon the White House lawn,

With his Easter party

We're awake before the dawn,

In joyful anticipation

Of this gala, gay occasion.

Our gay beribboned baskets

Filled with eggs of brightest hue

Vie for favor with our bonnets

Now so saucy, crisp and new--

Which we don with proud assurance

For this special day's occurrence.

We pass through the gates historic

Where kings have passed before,

And our own beloved statesmen

Pass today; and those of yore

Whose noble spirits seem to linger

Adding welcome to our Childhood ever eager.

Bright balloons float about

And the lawn is ours.

Bands sweet music make

While we spend the sunny hours,

Rolling eggs in fashion gay to see

On a land that's truly free.