The spirit of communal holiday cheer is alive and well at Arlington City Hall, where the iconic Vandergriff Poinsettia Tree has made its home, courtesy of a family whose dedication to the festive season has long warmed the hearts of Arlington residents. The poinsettia tree, a towering yuletide tradition first raised by Tom Vandergriff, former Mayor of Arlington, and his wife Anna Waynette back in 1986, has, after several years of absence, returned to spark Christmas joy in a public space.
Chronicled by the City of Arlington's Office of Communication, the Vandergriff's holiday display history dates back to their move to West Park Row Drive in 1968; since then, they've dazzled onlookers with decorations that grew exponentially from simple wreaths to one-of-a-kind snowflakes and then to the poinsettia behemoth that set a new standard for Christmas décor, "They just loved doing it. My whole family's life, their lives particularly, was based on public service for Arlington," Victor Vandergriff, son of Tom and Anna Waynette, was noted for his remembrance of his family's legacy.
The poinsettia tree's genesis was inspired during a New York trip taken by Mrs. Vandergriff, where she encountered an oversized Christmas tree made of poinsettias and resolved to share its majesty with Arlington's citizens. The laborious task of realizing this vision, including the initial install which would physically halt traffic due to its magnificence, was described as "just a labor of love, a gift to the city and the community, it was really fun," by Viveca Vandergriff, daughter of Tom and Anna Waynette, according to the family's interview with the City of Arlington's Office of Communication.
