    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [December 24, 2005]
    [Pages 1899-1900]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    December 24, 2005

        Good morning. On this Christmas Eve, Laura
    and I send our best wishes to families across America as you gather in
    your homes to celebrate the holiday. Christmas is a time of joy and
    peace, and we hope the holiday season brings all of you happy reunions
    with families and friends and time to rest and reflect as you look
    forward to a new year.

    [[Page 1900]]

        At Christmas, we give thanks for the gift of the birth of Christ and
    for the blessings that surround us every day of the year. In this great
    and prosperous land, we have so much to be thankful for, and Christmas
    reminds us of our obligation to share these blessings with others. There
    are many among us who are hurting and require a helping hand. In the new
    year, I hope Americans will look for ways to volunteer your time and
    talents where they are needed most. By reaching out to a neighbor in
    need, we make our Nation a more just and compassionate place.
        This Christmas, we remember our fellow citizens who suffered from
    the hurricanes and other disasters that struck our Nation this past
    year. We pray for their strength as they continue to recover and rebuild
    their lives and their communities.
        During the holiday season and throughout the year, we think with
    pride of the men and women of our Armed Forces, who are keeping our
    Nation safe and defending freedom around the world. In Iraq,
    Afghanistan, and elsewhere, they are protecting our liberty by spreading
    liberty to others, and all Americans are grateful to our troops for
    their courage and commitment.
        We're also grateful to their families. Staying behind when a family
    member goes to war is a heavy burden, and it's particularly hard at
    Christmas. We pray for our military families; we ask Almighty God to
    bestow His protection and care on their loved ones as they protect our
    Nation from grave dangers.
        We also remember the heroic men and women who have made the ultimate
    sacrifice for our Nation's freedom. We pray that God will comfort the
    loved ones they left behind. The sacrifices of these brave troops have
    rescued millions from lives of tyranny and sorrow and made America more
    secure. We will always cherish the memory of each of our fallen service
    men and women and count it a privilege to be citizens of the country
    they served.
        The times we live in have brought many challenges to our country.
    And at such times, the story of Christmas brings special comfort and
    confidence. Christmas reminds us that we can trust in God's promise of
    peace on Earth and good will toward men. On a night more than 2,000
    years ago, an angel of the Lord brought good tidings of great joy: The
    God of Heaven had come to Earth, and He would be with us always.
        Thank you for listening, and Merry Christmas.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:10 a.m. on December 22 in the
    Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December
    24. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on December 23 but was embargoed for release until the
    broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of this address.