SALT LAKE CITY -- A tree with hand-colored paper ornaments is one of the first five trees visitors to the Governor's Mansion will see in the next two weeks.
Hill Field Elementary School students in Clearfield created more than 500 fairies, dragons, wands and books to hang on the 10-foot-tall Christmas tree in the library at the mansion. The ornaments that didn't fit on the tree were hung on the greenery over the fireplace mantle.
Debbie Sample's sixth-grade class was chosen to travel to the mansion Wednesday to decorate the tree and take a tour of the mansion.
The first thing placed on the tree was a silver banner with the words, "Fantasies and Fairies: It all comes true through books."
"Don't be bashful," said Gov. Gary Herbert, who encouraged the students to begin hanging the ornaments.
The ornaments are not as fancy as the ones hanging on the other four trees throughout the mansion. Those trees were decorated by volunteers in the community, said Christine Kearl, the education director with the office of the governor and first lady.
"These were made with more love," said Lesli Schott, about the paper ornaments.
She was one of two student teachers who accompanied the sixth-graders to the mansion.
For the past 18 years, a school is selected to decorate one of the trees at the mansion, said Clark Monk, chairman for the holiday decoration committee at the mansion.
The tradition was started by Mary Kaye Huntsman, wife of former Gov. Jon Huntsman.
First Lady Jeanette Herbert chose "Fantasies and Fairies" for this year's Christmas theme at the mansion.
Gov. Gary Herbert and first lady Jeanette Herbert spent an hour and a half with the students at the mansion.
"I want to thank you for the sacrifice you and your families have made for us," Herbert said.
Hill Field Elementary was chosen because many of the parents of the students serve in the military, Kearl said. Hill Air Force Base, where many of the students live, is located near the school.
"I thought (Herbert) would stay some of the time, but not the whole time," said sixth-grader Luke Reeves, whose father recently returned from Qatar. "It was really kind (of Herbert)."
Luke said last Christmas was "kind of sad" because his father, who serves in the Air Force, had been deployed to Qatar.
"But this Christmas is going to be fun," Lukes said, because his father is now home.
Nick Dubovik knows this Christmas is going to be a little different because his father, who is also in the Air Force, just left a week ago for Italy.
"It's always quieter when he's gone," Nick said.
It's not the first time the sixth-grader has spent a Christmas without his dad.
But he is looking forward to the summer, when he and his family move to Italy to live for the next two years.
Darvy Zelinka is looking forward to this Christmas, because her father has returned from Korea.
"Last year was hard," said Darvy, whose family recently moved to Hill Air Force Base.
Darvy said the best part of making the ornaments for the Governor's Mansion was the time she spent with her friends.
And the most difficult part of moving is leaving friends behind.
"But the best part of moving is making new friends," Darvy said.
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