Washington, D.C. -- A famous portrait of President John F. Kennedy will hang on Christmas trees across the country this year. The 35^th president is honored on the 2020 official White House Christmas ornament.

The annual ornament, a tradition for people across the country since 1981, is designed and distributed by the White House Historical Association to raise money for its mission to educate the public about White House history.

The White House Historical Association, founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, is described on its website as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a mission to “protect, preserve and provide public access to the history of the White House.”

Each year, the official ornament honors a different president in sequential order.

Stewart McLaurin is the president of the association and a North Carolina native. 

 “It’s probably known as the most iconic presidential portrait in the White House collection. We thought it captured him, the moment and was a very respectful ornament to honor him as well,” McLaurin said.

The back of the ornament includes a quote from First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, “The White House belongs to the American people.”

The ornament is made by a family-run, veteran-founded small business in Rhode Island.  

The money raised through the ornament goes toward the White House Historical Association’s programs, including the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, education programs for visitors who go through the White House, the White House Visitor Center, and online digital education programs.

You can find the ornament at post office locations or you can order it online.