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SCHWARZENEGGER LIGHTS TREE & BUSH!
Arnold lights state Christmas tree!
Reported By: TheARNOLDFANS.com Staff
Sunday, December 5, 2004

Arnold Jingled all the way to California's state capital on Thursday to help light the state Holiday Tree. Before lighting the bushy symbol of Christmas, Schwarzenegger talked about his own Christmas traditions growing up in Austria, singing carols in German around a tree trimmed with candy, cookies and real candles.

"Back then not in my wildest dreams did I think about that one day I would be standing here in front of the Capitol in Sacramento... as the governor and lighting the official state Christmas tree," he said.

A choir sang "'Tis the Season," as Schwarzenegger helped Ariana Pole, a 7-year-old with cerebral palsy, put the final handmade ornament on the 56-foot white fir.

Then he and first lady Maria Shriver flipped a switch to light 5,000 multicolored bulbs as about 1,000 people watched.

It was the 73rd annual lighting of the tree. Four years ago, during the state's power crisis, Gov. Gray Davis lit the tree and then turned it off to save energy.

The California Govinator has also been busy this week receiving awards. One of the biggest ones was given Tuesday by ex-president, George Bush, honoring Schwarzenegger with the 2004 George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service. The award was presented during a ceremony at Texas A&M, which is home to Bush's presidential library.

Schwarzenegger said, quote: "George Bush opened my eyes. He threw me in and gave me a platform." Schwarzenegger was chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during Bush's presidency. Bush says the former bodybuilder from Austria-turned-actor deserves the credit. Last year Massachusetts Ted Kennedy, who is the uncle of Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver, received the Bush award.

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TheARNOLDFANS.com Staff