    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [December 4, 2008]
    [Pages 1412-1413]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Lighting the National Christmas Tree
    December 4, 2008

        Thank you. Mr. Secretary, thank you for
    the introduction, and thank you for the warm welcome. Laura and I are pleased to welcome all of you here for one of
    Washington's great traditions, the lighting of the National Christmas
    Tree.
        Santa, thank you for finally showing up. [Laughter] I know you've
    come a long way. After all, you do live in the North Pole. You may have
    heard that Laura and I are going to have plenty
    of time next year. [Laughter] So we look forward to returning the favor.
    The problem is we're going to be short on an airplane. [Laughter] Have
    you got an extra sleigh? [Laughter]
        I welcome the members of my Cabinet, the administration, and their
    families; Members of Congress and their families; Vin Cipolla; Mary Bomar, the Director of the
    National Park Service; Peggy O'Dell, Regional
    Director, National Capital Region of the National Park Service. All the
    National Park Service employees, we thank you for your dedication and
    work.
        Laura and I are thrilled to be here with our
    dear friend, Reverend Luis Leon. All the
    entertainers, thank you for being here. You were fabulous tonight. We
    appreciate your performance. We especially welcome the folks from
    Enterprise, Alabama. And we thank the school choir for showing the
    determination and grit of some really fine people.
        We want to thank all the volunteers who designed and created the
    ornaments for our State trees.
        Today we celebrate the 85th anniversary of the National Christmas
    Tree lighting. In times of calm and in times of challenge, Americans
    have gathered for this ceremony. The simple story we remember during the
    season speaks to every generation. It is the story of a humble birth in
    a quiet town, and the story of one life that changed millions more. For
    two millennia, the story of Christmas has brought joy to families,
    comfort to communities, and hope to hearts around the world.

    [[Page 1413]]

        During Christmas we celebrate the blessings of the season and the
    blessings that surround us every day. And the greatest of these
    blessings is freedom, the Almighty's gift to every man, woman, and child
    on the face of the Earth.
        And today we give thanks to the brave men and women who protect the
    American people by defending freedom around the world. Over the past 8
    years, my greatest honor as President has been serving as Commander in
    Chief of the finest military ever known.
        Our men and women in uniform have stepped forward to defend our
    Nation during a time of war. They serve with courage and with honor, and
    they've made incredible sacrifices. Many of them will spend this
    Christmas stationed in distant lands, far from the families they love.
    Yet they're never far from our thoughts, and they are always in our
    prayers. America honors their service, and we are grateful to the
    sacrifice of the families who stand by their side.
        Some of those families are with us tonight, and Laura and I are pleased to be joined by Kayleigh
    Kepler and Lindsey Van Horn. Lindsey's dad is in
    Baghdad. Kayleigh's dad will deploy to Iraq
    next year. Kayleigh and Lindsey, America is safer because of your dads,
    and moms and dads across America, who have stepped forward to defend our
    country.
        And now I'm going to ask Kayleigh and Lindsey to get up here with
    Laura--to please come up with Laura--[laughter]--and help us light this
    beautiful tree.
        Everybody join: five, four, three, two, one!

    Note: The President spoke at 5:55 p.m. on the Ellipse at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of the Interior Dirk
    Kempthorne, who introduced the President; SFC Steve Cramer, USA, U.S.
    Army Chorus, in his role as Santa Claus; Vin Cipolla, president and
    chief executive officer, National Park Foundation; and Luis Leon,
    rector, St. John's Church.