[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 51 (Monday, December 29, 2008)]
[Pages 1582-1583]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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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.
    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

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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.