Some of the most powerful people in the world this year will be receiving a holiday greeting card produced in Lawrence.

The official White House holiday greeting will be delivered to President Bush’s friends and family, as well as foreign dignitaries, by Hallmark Cards Inc.

Kansas City, Mo.-based Hallmark announced Friday that it had been selected to produce the official White House holiday greeting card. It marks the 35th time Hallmark has been selected for the job.

Mark Garrett, plant manager of Hallmark’s Lawrence production facility, confirmed that the cards were made at the Lawrence plant.

It marks the second year in a row the Lawrence facility has made the high-powered greeting card. Garrett said the Lawrence plant is chosen for the honor because the card has a page insert and the Lawrence facility produces all Hallmark cards with page inserts.

The front of the card features a view of a 1938 Steinway piano in the Grand Foyer on the State Floor of the White House. Artist Zhen-Huan Lu of Atlanta was chosen by President and Mrs. Bush to create the original artwork.

Mrs. Bush selected a Psalm and a brief message of peace for the greeting. It reads: “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm: 100:5. May love and peace fill your heart and home during this holiday season and throughout the new year.”

The white House greeting card that President and Mrs. Bush will be sending out this holiday season was produced in Lawrence.

Lu, a native of Shanghai, China, traditionally paints scenery. His paintings – a combination of European realism, French impressionism and traditional Chinese – have been displayed in many other U.S. galleries.

The holiday painting is reproduced on the card as a tip-on on ecru stock and surrounded by a debossed border. An embossed gold foil presidential seal highlights the insert page.

The Lawrence Hallmark plant, 101 McDonald Drive, employs 860 people. Garrett said the plant stopped work on Christmas cards in July. Currently the company is finishing up work on Valentine’s Day cards and soon will begin on Easter, Mother’s Day and graduation greetings.