    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 25 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
    [Pages 1214-1215]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    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

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