A crowd of 3,000 braved chilly temperatures to witness last night's lighting of the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon.

The 31st annual Christmas-season lighting of the historic monument had been scheduled for Thursday, but was delayed by the major snowstorm that struck the region.

Mayor Martin O'Malley officiated at the program, along with Ray Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens' injured linebacker.

Fireworks exploded over Mount Vernon Place to accompany the lighting of the monument, which was finished in 1829 and features a marble statue of George Washington on top of a 160-foot marble column.

Included in the crowd last night was a group of about 200 "Citizens for Peace" who held candles, sparklers and photographs of Iraqi children.

The Baltimore-based group opposes an American attack on Iraq.