[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 48 (Monday, December 8, 2008)]
[Pages 1479-1480]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

[[Page 1480]]

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.
    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.