Sosa Leads National Tree Lighting Team

WASHINGTON —  Home run hitter Sammy Sosa and a pair of Scouts were on deck Wednesday to help President Clinton and his wife light the national Christmas tree.

After a traditional 3-2-1 countdown, flipping the light switch was an honor being shared by Jessica Scott, from Washington’s Brownie Troop 1257, and local Cub Scout Edgar Allen Shepard Jr.

Hillary Rodham Clinton invited Sosa to help preside over the annual Pageant of Peace after the two met in October, during her hurricane relief travels to his native San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. His Chicago Cubs are a hometown favorite of the first lady.

The Santa suit fell to Al Roker of NBC-TV’s “Today,” while crooner Tony Bennett, singer-guitarist Jose Feliciano, the cast of Broadway’s “Cats” and opera singer Leona Mitchell filled out the celebrity lineup for the evening festivities.

The annual lighting ceremony dates back to Christmas Eve 1913, when President Wilson staged a “civic Christmas” on the Capitol plaza.