1
00:00:05,667 --> 00:00:07,467
The President:
Merry Christmas, everybody.
2
00:00:07,467 --> 00:00:09,333
Michelle and I just wanted to
take a moment today to send
3
00:00:09,333 --> 00:00:11,867
greetings from our
family to yours.
4
00:00:11,867 --> 00:00:13,900
The First Lady:
This is one of our
favorite times of year.
5
00:00:13,900 --> 00:00:16,667
And we're so fortunate to be
able to celebrate it together in
6
00:00:16,667 --> 00:00:18,300
this wonderful home.
7
00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:19,934
This is the "People's House."
8
00:00:19,934 --> 00:00:23,700
So Barack and I try to open it
to as many people as we can,
9
00:00:23,700 --> 00:00:26,233
especially during
the holiday season.
10
00:00:26,233 --> 00:00:29,700
You know, his month, more than
100,000 Americans have passed
11
00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:31,532
through these halls.
12
00:00:31,533 --> 00:00:35,166
And the idea behind this
year's theme, "Simple Gifts,"
13
00:00:35,166 --> 00:00:38,500
is that the greatest blessings
of all are the ones that don't
14
00:00:38,500 --> 00:00:43,066
cost a thing -- the comfort of
spending time with loved ones,
15
00:00:43,066 --> 00:00:45,533
the freedoms we
enjoy as Americans,
16
00:00:45,533 --> 00:00:49,767
and the joy we feel upon
giving something of ourselves.
17
00:00:49,767 --> 00:00:53,333
So in this time of family,
and friends, and good cheer,
18
00:00:53,333 --> 00:00:56,500
let's also be sure to look
out for those who are less
19
00:00:56,500 --> 00:00:59,200
fortunate, who've hit
a run of bad luck,
20
00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,934
or who are hungry and
alone this holiday season.
21
00:01:02,934 --> 00:01:06,533
The President:
Because this is the season when
we celebrate the simplest yet
22
00:01:06,533 --> 00:01:10,433
most profound gift of all: the
birth of a child who devoted his
23
00:01:10,433 --> 00:01:14,767
life to a message of peace,
love, and redemption.
24
00:01:14,767 --> 00:01:17,467
A message that says
no matter who we are,
25
00:01:17,467 --> 00:01:19,867
we are called to
love one another --
26
00:01:19,867 --> 00:01:23,533
we are our brother's keeper,
we are our sister's keeper;
27
00:01:23,533 --> 00:01:28,700
our separate stories in this big
and busy world are really one.
28
00:01:28,700 --> 00:01:30,934
Today, we're also thinking of
those who can't be home for the
29
00:01:30,934 --> 00:01:36,533
holidays -- especially all our
courageous countrymen serving overseas.
30
00:01:36,533 --> 00:01:39,033
That's the message I delivered
when I visited our troops in
31
00:01:39,033 --> 00:01:42,233
Afghanistan a few weeks ago --
that while you may be serving
32
00:01:42,233 --> 00:01:47,033
far from home, every American
supports you and your families.
33
00:01:47,033 --> 00:01:48,433
We are with you.
34
00:01:48,433 --> 00:01:53,033
And I have no greater honor than
serving as your Commander-in-Chief.
35
00:01:53,033 --> 00:01:55,700
Today's soldiers,
sailors, airmen, Marines,
36
00:01:55,700 --> 00:01:58,700
and Coast Guardsmen make up the
finest fighting force in the
37
00:01:58,700 --> 00:02:00,300
history of the world.
38
00:02:00,300 --> 00:02:03,333
Just like their predecessors,
they do extraordinary things in
39
00:02:03,333 --> 00:02:05,934
service to their country.
40
00:02:05,934 --> 00:02:08,934
What makes that all the more
remarkable is that today's
41
00:02:08,934 --> 00:02:11,533
military is an
all-volunteer force --
42
00:02:11,533 --> 00:02:14,700
a force of mothers and
fathers, sons and daughters,
43
00:02:14,700 --> 00:02:16,500
husbands and wives.
44
00:02:16,500 --> 00:02:17,433
The First Lady:
That's right.
45
00:02:17,433 --> 00:02:20,632
And as First Lady, I've had the
honor to meet members of our
46
00:02:20,633 --> 00:02:24,500
military and their families on
bases and in communities all
47
00:02:24,500 --> 00:02:26,166
across the country.
48
00:02:26,166 --> 00:02:29,900
I've gotten to know husbands and
wives doing the parenting of two
49
00:02:29,900 --> 00:02:32,400
while their spouse is
on another deployment;
50
00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,667
children trying their best in
school but always wondering when
51
00:02:35,667 --> 00:02:39,533
mom or dad is coming home;
patriots putting their lives on
52
00:02:39,533 --> 00:02:43,033
hold to help with a
loved one's recovery;
53
00:02:43,033 --> 00:02:46,132
or carry on the memory
of a fallen hero.
54
00:02:46,133 --> 00:02:49,066
When our men and women in
uniform answer the call to
55
00:02:49,066 --> 00:02:52,400
serve, their
families serve, too.
56
00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,233
And they're proud
and glad to do it.
57
00:02:55,233 --> 00:02:59,266
But as long as that service
keeps the rest of us safe,
58
00:02:59,266 --> 00:03:02,667
their sacrifice should
also be our own.
59
00:03:02,667 --> 00:03:07,200
Even heroes can use a hand,
especially during the holidays.
60
00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,466
The President:
So we're encouraging Americans
to ask what you can do to
61
00:03:10,467 --> 00:03:14,567
support our troops and their
families in this holiday season.
62
00:03:14,567 --> 00:03:18,834
For some ideas on how to get
started, just visit serve.gov.
63
00:03:18,834 --> 00:03:22,133
The First Lady:
You'll see that you don't need
to be an expert in military life
64
00:03:22,133 --> 00:03:25,367
to give back to those
who give so much to us.
65
00:03:25,367 --> 00:03:28,033
There are countless ways to
contribute by harnessing your
66
00:03:28,033 --> 00:03:29,767
unique talents.
67
00:03:29,767 --> 00:03:32,734
If you live near a base, you can
reach out through your local
68
00:03:32,734 --> 00:03:34,400
school or your church.
69
00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,567
If you don't, you can volunteer
with organizations that support
70
00:03:37,567 --> 00:03:39,300
military families.
71
00:03:39,300 --> 00:03:43,066
And anybody can send a care
package or pre-paid calling card
72
00:03:43,066 --> 00:03:46,700
to the front lines, or give
what's sometimes the most
73
00:03:46,700 --> 00:03:51,232
important gift of all:
simply saying "thank you."
74
00:03:51,233 --> 00:03:54,800
The President:
America's brave servicemen and
women represent a small fraction
75
00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,600
of our population.
76
00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,966
But they -- and the families
who await their safe return --
77
00:03:59,967 --> 00:04:03,600
carry far more than their
fair share of the burden.
78
00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,066
They've done everything
they've been asked to do.
79
00:04:06,066 --> 00:04:08,767
They've been everything
we've asked them to be.
80
00:04:08,767 --> 00:04:11,500
And even as we speak, many are
fighting halfway around the
81
00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:15,834
globe -- in hopes that someday,
our children and grandchildren
82
00:04:15,834 --> 00:04:17,632
won't have to.
83
00:04:17,632 --> 00:04:20,032
So let's all remind them this
holiday season that we're
84
00:04:20,033 --> 00:04:23,333
thinking of them -- and that
America will forever be here for
85
00:04:23,333 --> 00:04:26,200
them, just as they've
been there for us.
86
00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,767
And on behalf of
Michelle, Malia, Sasha --
87
00:04:29,767 --> 00:04:31,033
The First Lady:
And Bo.
88
00:04:31,033 --> 00:04:33,767
The President:
And Bo -- have a
very Merry Christmas.
89
00:04:33,767 --> 00:04:35,867
The First Lady:
And an even happier New Year.
