Gordon Artist Helps to Decorate White House Christmas Tree For a western artist, painting an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on a Christmas tree ornament is a bit of a stretch, but when the request comes indirectly from the First Lady of the United States, it is hard to turn down the opportunity. Even though Joan Buckles didn't get a direct call from Laura Bush, she did get a call from her long time friend Jeanne Berry who happens to work at the Minuteman Missile National Historic site near Wall, South Dakota. Mrs. Berry was notified by the White House that Mrs. Bush wanted to decorate the Christmas tree in the Blue room of the White House with ornaments representing all of the nation's national parks. When Jeannie received the request, she immediately thought of Joan to do the work. Joan was asked to transfer the Park's emblem on two sides of an oversized, gold Christmas ornament. In addition to being asked to paint the ornament, Joan also received a special invitation to the White House to honor all of the 347 artists who participated in this year's project. Joan commented, "I was honored to be able to paint a Christmas ornament that would hang in the White House and then to receive a special invitation to meet Mrs. Bush was wonderful." "I would have loved to visit our Nation's Capital, but truthfully, I would have been lost in such a place." Joan Buckles