    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [June 23, 2006]
    [Pages 1207-1208]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at Opening Day of 2006 White House Tee-Ball
    June 23, 2006

        The President. Seth, thank you very much.
    Good job. Welcome to the South Lawn. Laura and I
    are thrilled you're here for opening day. It is an honor for me and the
    commissioner, General Pete Pace, to welcome you
    all here for what is going to be an exciting ball game between the
    Yankees from McGuire Air Force Base--[applause]--yes, right from New
    Jersey. Welcome. Glad you all are here. And they're going to be playing
    the Dolcom Little League Indians from Groton, Connecticut, representing
    the Naval Submarine Base of New London. Thank you all for coming.
    Welcome.
        We want to welcome the coaches and the players. We want to welcome
    the moms and dads and grandparents here to this historic ballpark. And
    we're glad you're here to help us kick off the 2006 Tee-Ball on the
    South Lawn season. General Pace and I expect
    there to be some pretty good competition today.
        I do want to welcome the mayor of Groton, Connecticut, Mayor Harry
    Watson. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming;
    proud you're here. Thanks for serving. Thanks for joining us. I welcome
    Captain Sean Sullivan, who will be the
    first base coach. Captain, thanks for serving. Proud you're here. Good
    luck. You've got some awesome duties today. And Colonel Rick
    Martin from McGuire, good to see you,
    Colonel. Thanks for coming, Colonel. Proud you're here.
        We're proud to welcome Steve Keener,
    who is the president and CEO of Little League International, and his
    wife, Cheryl. Steve, thanks for coming back.
    Thanks for helping. For those of you who want to be a Major League
    player, Mike O'Connor is with us, from the
    mighty Washington Nationals. Mike, thank you for coming, buddy. Mike is
    a pitcher for the Nationals. Glad you're here, Mike. We welcome Seth
    Fallon. We just heard from Seth. Thanks. And I
    want to thank the Navy Sea Cadets Corps, who happen to be the color
    guard.
        Zane Ellingwood is about to put the
    first ball on the first tee for the first game. But not quite yet. I do
    want to welcome Tim Brant. Where are you, Tim?
    There he is. Tim, thanks for coming, buddy.
        Announcer Tim Brant. Thank you, pal.
        The President. A national baseball announcer
    here to call opening day. We really appreciate you coming. Thanks.
        And finally, I do want to welcome representatives from the Armed
    Forces Foundation, the Fisher House, and our military kids. Thank you
    for serving our families. After the game, it's my honor to be able to
    present the balls to each of the players on the team. And I will also be
    able to welcome Dave Erbe, who is a youth
    volunteer. He volunteers to help the wounded and injury--military
    personnel at Walter Reed. David, thank you in advance for doing what
    you're doing. Thanks for serving your generation and our country. You're
    a good man.
        And now, before we put the first ball on the tee, I do want you to
    join me in the Little League Pledge. Are you ready? All players ready?
    Doesn't look like it. [Laughter] Are you ready?

    [At this point, the pledge was recited.]

        The President. Play ball.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:05 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Seth Fallon, member, Maryland
    State Boychoir, who sang the national anthem; Gen. Peter Pace, USMC,
    Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, in his capacity as 2006 commissioner of
    White House tee-ball; Capt. Sean P. Sullivan, USN, commanding officer,
    Naval Submarine Base New London, who served as first base coach; Col.
    Frederick H. Martin, USAF, commander,

    [[Page 1208]]

    McGuire Air Force Base, who served as third base coach; and youth
    volunteer Zane Ellingwood.