From left, among the 22 debutantes to be presented at the annual Holly Ball are (front row) Meghan Anthony and Beatrice Bronner; (next row) Melinda Sellew and Rémy Enoch. Photo by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi

The Holly Ball is a black tie invitational charity event that benefits the Tidewater Foundation, said publicity chairman Patricia Gallagher. Proceeds reach the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula communities through grants from the foundation.

Each year the Holly Ball queen selects an outstanding member of the community to provide the annual oration on a topic relating to the spirit and origin of the ball, said Gallagher.

Rep. Wittman was first elected to serve the First Congressional District of Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives in December 2007 to fill an unexpired term. He was elected to his first full term in November 2010.

For more than 20 years, Rep. Wittman has served in several levels of government. He previously served on the Montross Town Council, the Westmoreland board of supervisors and the House of Delegates from District 99.

He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where he chairs the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and serves on the Subcommittees on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces. He co-chairs the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus.

Rep. Wittman also serves on the Committee on Natural Resources, where he brings his professional expertise in water quality and fisheries.

In December 2010, he was appointed chairman of the U.S. Naval Academy’s board of visitors. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Wittman spent 26 years working in state government, most recently as field director for the Virginia Health Department’s Division of Shellfish Sanitation.

Queen LeighAnna Virginia Morris will reign over the Holly Realm. The presentation of the debutantes will begin at 8 p.m. with a grand processional. Rep. Wittman will then deliver his speech, followed by dance pattern of colonial origins performed by the debutantes and their escorts. At 9 p.m., guests pay tribute to former debutantes. the new queen is crowned and Rep. Wittman addresses the ball. Music will be provided by The Kings of Swing until the ball ends at midnight

Tickets are available in advance and not sold at the door. For tickets, call 761-0401.