    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 4, 2003]
    [Pages 1677-1678]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Lighting the National Christmas Tree
    December 4, 2003

        Thank you all very much. Welcome to the Christmas Pageant of Peace.
    This evening we continue a tradition in Washington as we gather to light
    the National Christmas Tree. Tonight and throughout the Christmas season
    our thoughts turn to a star in the east, seen 20 centuries ago, and to a
    light that can guide us still. Laura and I are so
    pleased to join you in this ceremony, and we thank you all for being
    here.
        It's always good to see Santa. I know you've got a lot of
    commitments this time of year. [Laughter] We also know how Santa gets
    around: He travels in the dark of night; he arrives unannounced--
    [laughter]--and he's gone before you know he was there. [Laughter]
    Santa, I can assure you, it's a lot easier on a flying sled than it is
    on Air Force One. [Laughter]
        I want to thank Peter Nostrand, the
    chairman of the Christmas Pageant of Peace, and John Betchkal, the president. I want to thank very much Secretary of
    the Interior Gale Norton and her staff for
    helping put this fine event on. I want to thank all the members of my
    Cabinet who are here. I appreciate Fran Mainella, who's the Director of the National Park Service. I want to
    thank all the National Park Service employees who work so hard on behalf
    of the American people.
        I want to thank Father Kleinweber for
    his gracious offering of prayer. I appreciate the musicians--fantastic
    job tonight. Thank you all for coming. I want to thank the members of
    the board of the Christmas Pageant of Peace. I want to welcome all the
    children from the Boys and Girls Clubs from this region for being here.
        Also with us this evening are military personnel, including some who
    have recently returned from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. I know your
    families are glad

    [[Page 1678]]

    to have you back. They're proud of your service, and so is our country.
    On behalf of all Americans, welcome home, and job well done.
        We also honor all of our fellow Americans serving far away from home
    during the holidays. Separation from loved ones is especially difficult
    this time of year. Our people in uniform can know that their families
    miss them and love them, that millions are praying for them, and that
    America is grateful for the men and women who serve and defend our
    country.
        The story of Christmas is familiar to us all, and it still holds a
    sense of wonder and surprise. When the good news came first to a young
    woman from Nazareth, her response was understandable. She asked, ``How
    can this be?'' The news would bring difficulty to her family and
    suspicion upon herself. Yet, Mary gave her reply, ``Be it unto me
    according to Thy word.'' The wait for a new king had been long, and the
    manner of his arrival was not as many had expected. The king's first
    cries were heard by shepherds and cattle. He was raised by a carpenter's
    son.
        Yet this one humble life lifted the sights of humanity forever. And
    in His words we hear a voice like no other. Across the generations, the
    poor have heard words of hope, the proud have heard words of challenge,
    and the weak and the dying have heard words of assurance. And mankind
    has been given a message first delivered by angels on a shepherd's
    field: ``Fear not.''
        As we near Christmas in a time of war, these words bring comfort. We
    don't know all of God's ways, yet the Christmas story promises that
    God's purpose is justice and His plan is peace. At times this belief is
    tested. During the Civil War, Longfellow wrote a poem that later became
    a part of a Christmas carol, ``Hate is strong and mocks the song of
    peace on Earth, good will to men.''
        That poem also reminds us that hate is not the final word: ``Then
    pealed the bells more loud and deep, `God is not dead, nor doth He
    sleep, the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on Earth,
    good will to men.'''
        And now as an expression of our own hope for peace in this Christmas
    season, we light the national tree. Maggie Stuempfle and Andre Joyner are with us
    here. They're members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
    Laura and I would like to ask Maggie and Andre to
    come up, and we'll turn on the lights. But I ask you all to join us in a
    national count down, starting with five, four, three, two, one.

    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 Father Dennis
    Kleinweber, pastor, St. Philomena Catholic Church, East Cleveland, OH.