[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 49 (Monday, December 13, 1999)]
[Pages 2551-2552]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Lighting the National Christmas Tree

December 8, 1999

    Thank you. Thank you very much, Peter. Ladies and gentlemen, this is 
a wonderful ceremony every year, but this year it has been very special. 
I want to thank Wayne Newton and Renee Fleming, Marty Stuart, Al Roker--
he's a good Santa Claus. [Laughter] I want to thank the cast from 
``Chicago'' and Ricky Payton and the Urban National Youth Choir and, of 
course, Colonel Tim Foley and the Marine Corps Band, ``The President's 
Own.''
    The best perk of the Presidency is the Marine Corps Band, and I want 
to give them all a hand. They've been wonderful. [Applause]
    For over 85 years now, our country has gathered around our National 
Christmas

[[Page 2552]]

Tree to celebrate the beginning of this wonderful season of peace and 
hope. I am honored once again to be part of a tradition I have come to 
look forward to every year. For me, Christmas always starts now with the 
Pageant of Peace and the lighting of this beautiful Colorado spruce. And 
I am especially honored to be here to light the last tree of the 20th 
century.
    In this sacred season, it is time for all of us to renew our 
commitment to give of ourselves, to reach out to those who are less 
fortunate, to reach out to those who are different from us, to build the 
one America of our dreams. In this Pageant of Peace, we celebrate 
Christmas, also the season of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and others, all 
joined by a simple and universal message: that we are to love our 
neighbors as ourselves.
    This holiday season, we Americans have an awful lot to be thankful 
for: Our Nation is at peace, and all around the world we are privileged 
to make peace, from Bosnia to Northern Ireland to the Middle East, the 
land where a homeless child grew up to be the Prince of Peace.
    Just today, in this season, I was proud to announce that after a 
long, long stalemate, the Israelis and the Syrians have agreed to meet 
again in just a few days to make their peace.
    At the dawn of a new millennium, as we enjoy these wonderful 
performers and the timeless songs of all of our childhoods, let us 
rededicate ourselves to the true spirit of Christmas. As we light the 
National Christmas Tree, let us spread the light of peace and good will 
toward our family, our friends, our neighbors, and all those across the 
world, especially those who need it most.
    Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God bless you.
    I'd like to ask, now, the young scouts to come up and join me in 
lighting the Christmas tree. Caitlin Fong and Chris Alvarez--they're 
going to come up here. And didn't they do a good job? Let's give them 
another hand. [Applause]
    Unlike the sissies, like me, they did it without any coats on, 
either. I thought they were wonderful. All right, you put your hands on 
the switch now, and I'm going to count from three down to one and tell 
you to flip it, okay? Ready? Three, two, one, go.
    Good job.

Note: The President spoke at 6 p.m. on the Ellipse during the annual 
Christmas Pageant of Peace. In his remarks, he referred to Peter 
Nostrand, chairman, Christmas Pageant of Peace; entertainers Wayne 
Newton, Renee Fleming, and Marty Stuart; television weatherman Al Roker; 
and Ricky Payton, Sr., director, BET Urban Nation Voices of Youth H.I.P. 
H.O.P. Choir; and Col. Timothy W. Foley, USMC, Director, ``The 
President's Own'' United States Marine Band.