    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [December 6, 2001]
    [Pages 1490-1491]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Lighting the National Christmas Tree
    December 6, 2001

        Be seated, please--except for you all. [Laughter]
        I want to thank you very much and welcome you all to this year's
    Christmas Pageant of Peace. During this time of conflict and challenge,
    we once again celebrate the season of hope and the season of joy. We
    give thanks to our Nation and to our families and to our friends.
        The First Lady and I are so honored to be here. I want to thank
    Peter Nostrand and the committee for
    putting this together, and I particularly want to thank the
    entertainment committee--the person in charge of getting these fantastic
    entertainers to come tonight. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
        I want to thank all the employees and sponsors who put on this
    magnificent event. I want to thank Fran Mainella, the Director of the National Park Service, and all the
    Park Service employees who have worked hard to put this event on.
        I want to thank Santa Claus for being here
    tonight. [Laughter] I've been looking for you, Santa. [Laughter]
        In a moment, we will light the National Christmas Tree, a tradition
    Americans have been celebrating since 1923. The history of this event
    has included some memorable moments, including 60 years ago, less than 3
    weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when Prime Minister Winston
    Churchill made an appearance with President Franklin Roosevelt to light
    the tree.
        Now once again, we celebrate Christmas in a time of testing, with
    American troops far from home. This season finds our country with losses
    to mourn and great tasks to complete. In all those tasks, it is worth
    recalling the words from a beautiful Christmas hymn. In the third verse
    of ``O Holy

    [[Page 1491]]

    Night,'' we sing, ``His law is love, and His gospel is peace. Chains ye
    shall break, for the slave is our brother. And in His name all
    oppression shall cease.''
        America seeks peace and believes in justice. We fight only when
    necessary. We fight so that oppression may cease, and even in the midst
    of war, we pray for peace on Earth and good will to men.
        This is a time of the year for families and friends to gather
    together, not simply to celebrate the season but to renew the bonds of
    love and affection that give fulfillment to our lives. And this is a
    year we will not forget those who lost loved ones in the attacks on
    September the 11th and on the battlefield. They will remain in our
    prayers.
        It is now my honor to invite Leon Patterson and Faith Elseth and
    Laura to join me up here as we light the National
    Christmas Tree. Leon and Faith's fathers, Major Clifford Patterson and
    Lt. Commander Robert Elseth, served in the United States military. Both
    of these good men were lost in the attack on the Pentagon.
        Leon and Faith,
    we thank you for helping us celebrate Christmas. You remind us of the
    comfort of Christmas, that hope never fails and love never ends.
        And now, would you please help Laura light up
    our beautiful tree.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:55 p.m. on the Ellipse during the annual
    Christmas Pageant of Peace. In his remarks, he referred to Peter F.
    Nostrand, chairman, Christmas Pageant of Peace, and television
    weatherman Doug Hill, who played the role of Santa Claus. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these
    remarks.