It began in 1897, when an 8-year-old girl was told by her father that if it was in the New York Sun, it must be true. Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter pleading with the Sun’s editorial staff, “Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?”
Saturday, WTTG weather guy Tony Perkins read the reply of Sun editorial writer Francis Pharcellus Church, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” at the Newseum. After Perkins reassured the crowd that yes, there is a Santa Claus, Santa appeared and passed out gifts as the Barrington High School Madrigals from Barrington, Ill., sang Christmas carols.
Alison Starling of WJLA also read the most reproduced editorial in newspaper history Sunday. There will be another reading of the historic editorial with WRC’s Pat Lawson Muse on Dec. 12.
