They’re back again in 2020 to spread Christmas cheer.
Amid all of the craziness that has occurred this year, State Representatives Andrew Lewis and David Rowe decided they wanted to hold fast to holiday traditions. So when they learned that there wouldn’t be a Christmas tree in the Capitol rotunda, the pair went to work to find one, bring it into the building, and decorate it.
In a video shared on Facebook, Lewis and Rowe said they were going to “put all politics aside” to embrace “the true meaning of Christmas.” It was a similar message they shared last year when they rolled two pianos into the rotunda late at night, serenading a handful of citizens.
Set to the tune of “We Need a Little Christmas,” the over five-minute video, published to Lewis’s Facebook page, shows the lawmakers hanging lights, climbing a ladder to place a star, hanging ornaments, and then finally bringing back the two pianos to play “Silent Night.”
“They said there would be no Christmas tree in the Capitol this year -- not on our watch,” Lewis wrote in the post accompanying the video. “After this incredibly difficult year, Pennsylvania needs to hold on to our traditions now more than ever. Last night after hours, Pa. State Rep. David Rowe and I decided to make sure the holiday spirit stays alive in our Capitol and across Pa. Let’s take a second, put politics aside, and reflect on the season and the fact that together we will get through these challenging times. Merry Christmas!”
This year’s Capitol Christmas tree sits on the front steps of the statehouse, surrounded by garland-adorned fencing and wooden reindeer.
Lewis is a Republican representing the 105th legislative district in Dauphin County covering Lower Paxton, South Hanover and West Hanover townships. Rowe, also a Republican, represents Union and Snyder counties as part of the 85th district.
Read more from PennLive
Pa.’s 2020 Capitol Christmas tree serves as ‘reminder that better days are ahead’
Camp Hill’s Parade of Lights illuminates nonprofit’s holiday needs