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US President George W. Bush
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THE PRESIDENT:
Good morning. On this Christmas Eve, Laura
and I send our best wishes to families across America as you gather in
your homes to celebrate the holiday. Christmas is a time of joy and peace,
and we hope the holiday season brings all of you happy reunions with
families and friends, and time to rest and reflect as you look forward to
a new year.
At Christmas, we give thanks for the gift of the birth of Christ, and
for the blessings that surround us every day of the year. In this great
and prosperous land, we have so much to be thankful for, and Christmas
reminds us of our obligation to share these blessings with others. There
are many among us who are hurting and require a helping hand. In the new
year, I hope Americans will look for ways to volunteer your time and
talents where they are needed most. By reaching out to a neighbor in need,
we make our nation a more just and compassionate place.
This
Christmas, we remember our fellow citizens who suffered from the
hurricanes and other disasters that struck our nation this past year. We
pray for their strength as they continue to recover and rebuild their
lives and their communities.
During the holiday season and throughout the year, we think with pride
of the men and women of our Armed Forces, who are keeping our nation safe
and defending freedom around the world. In Iraq, Afghanistan, and
elsewhere, they are protecting our liberty by spreading liberty to others,
and all Americans are grateful to our troops for their courage and
commitment.
We're also grateful to their families. Staying behind when a family
member goes to war is a heavy burden -- and it's particularly hard at
Christmas. We pray for our military families; we ask Almighty God to
bestow His protection and care on their loved ones as they protect our
nation from grave dangers.
We also remember the heroic men and women who have made the ultimate
sacrifice for our nation's freedom. We pray that God will comfort the
loved ones they left behind. The sacrifices of these brave troops have
rescued millions from lives of tyranny and sorrow, and made America more
secure. We will always cherish the memory of each of our fallen servicemen
and women, and count it a privilege to be citizens of the country they
served.
The times we live in have brought many challenges to our country. And
at such times, the story of Christmas brings special comfort and
confidence. Christmas reminds us that we can trust in God's promise of
peace on Earth and goodwill toward men. On a night more than 2,000 years
ago, an angel of the Lord brought good tidings of great joy: the God of
Heaven had come to Earth, and He would be with us always.
Thank you for listening, and Merry Christmas.
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