to the editor: I was struck by guest contributor Rosa Lowinger's op-ed about the demolished East Wing and its disappearance from our collective history as a nation (“The demolition of the East Wing is a lasting scar on Trump's America,” November 12).
Last year, I was a volunteer Christmas decorator for the White House. I remember that experience with pride and now also with great sadness. It took place for a full week over the Thanksgiving holiday; eight hours a day of intense and hectic creative production and installation.
Who wouldn't be surprised upon entering the east wing, where we checked in and then walked down the hallway? Sunlight shone through the tall windows that overlooked the rose garden. We then ascended to the Cross Hall and the East Room. It still takes my breath away just thinking about it.
The White House curator emphasized to us that it was a museum with fragile historical artifacts; any changes had to be handled with special caution and care. With that in mind, we all did our jobs in reverence to the People's House.
The destruction of the east wing is a tragedy. I can only hope that “we the people” continue to fight to somehow preserve this symbol of our unique democracy.
Rebecca York, Wild Idyll
