[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.