Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett lit the Capitol Christmas tree on Tuesday with a special focus.
The event was billed by the governor's office as an opportunity to thank law enforcement for their efforts on behalf of flood-stricken Pennsylvanians in the wake of Tropical Storm Lee. "To all the first responders that are here and all the first responders across Pennsylvania for everything that they did in a very trying year," said Tom Corbett.
The tree-lighting ceremony in the Capitol rotunda featured 15-year-old Colin Vengen, who was evacuated by helicopter from the flood zone so that he could receive a liver transplant. His mother, Tiffany Harkins, said that without the help of state troopers, her son would not have survived. "They got us there in record time, and he was able to get the transplant done," Harkins said.
This year's Christmas tree is a 22-foot Concolor donated by a farm in York County. It will stand in the Rotunda through January 7th.