    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [December 23, 2008]
    [Pages 1508-1509]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    December 23, 2008

        Good morning. This week millions of Americans gather with loved ones
    for Christmas. This is a season of hope and joy. And it is an occasion
    to remember a humble birth that has helped shape the world for more than
    2000 years.
        One of the things that makes Christmas special is that it allows us
    to step back and take stock of what is truly meaningful in our lives. As
    years pass by, we often forget about the gifts and the parties, but we
    remember special moments with families and friends.
        This year, as you spend time with those you love, I hope you'll also
    take time to remember the men and women of our Armed Forces. Every one
    of them has volunteered to serve our Nation. And with their incredible
    sacrifices, they preserve the peace and freedom that we celebrate during
    this season.
        This tradition of service is as old as our Nation itself. In 1776,
    it looked as if America's first Christmas as an independent nation might
    also be its last. After a series of crippling defeats by the British,
    George Washington's army was exhausted and disheartened. With their
    terms of service expiring in just a few weeks, many soldiers were
    planning on leaving the army. And it seemed that without a miracle,
    America's fight for freedom would be doomed.

    [[Page 1509]]

        That miracle took place on Christmas night, 1776. George Washington
    planned a surprise attack on the enemy forces camped across the Delaware
    River in Trenton, New Jersey. Under the cover of darkness, he led a few
    thousand soldiers across the icy waters in the midst of a driving
    snowstorm. Most generals would not have taken such a risk. But the
    commitment of Washington and his men was absolute. They headed into
    battle with a bold password, ``Victory or death.''
        In a matter of hours, victory was theirs. Morale immediately
    improved. And the American people began to believe that our Nation
    possessed the perseverance and courage to protect our liberty. The
    turnaround that began that night would end with the United States
    triumph in the American Revolution and the permanent establishment of a
    free nation.
        Two hundred and thirty-two years have passed since George Washington
    crossed the Delaware. But on this Christmas, his legacy lives on in the
    men and women of the United States military. Some of them are spending
    this holiday helping defend emerging democracies like Iraq and
    Afghanistan. Others are spending it in lands where we defeated tyranny
    long ago, such as Germany or Japan. And some of them are spending it
    stateside, recovering in places like Bethesda National Naval Medical
    Center or Walter Reed.
        Regardless of where they are, our men and women in uniform and the
    families who support them remind us of a clear lesson: Defending freedom
    is a full-time job. Our enemies do not take holidays. So the members of
    our Armed Forces stand ready to protect our freedom at any hour. For
    their service, they have the thanks of a grateful nation, this Christmas
    and always.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on December 23 in the
    Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December
    27. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on December 23. The Office of the Press Secretary also
    released a Spanish language transcript of this address.