Text 2882, 80 rader
Skriven 2006-06-23 23:34:30 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0606233) for Fri, 2006 Jun 23
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President Attends White House Tee Ball Game
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For Immediate Release
June 23, 2006

President Attends White House Tee Ball Game
The South Lawn

President's Remarks view

˙˙˙˙˙ Fact Sheet ˙˙˙˙˙ White House Tee Ball

1:05 P.M. EDT

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 --
(applause) -- 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 -- (applause) --
representing the Naval Submarine Base of New London. Thank you all for
coming. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.) Thanks for
serving. Thanks for joining us. I welcome Captain Sean Sullivan, who will
be the First Base Coach. Captain, thanks for serving. Proud you're here.
(Applause.) Good luck. You've got some awesome duties today. And Colonel
Rick Martin, from McGuire, good to see you, Colonel. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.) But not quite yet. I do want to welcome Tim Brant.
Where are you, Tim? There he is. Tim, thanks for coming, buddy.

MR. 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. (Applause.) 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 [sic] 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. (Applause.)

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?

(The pledge is recited.)

THE PRESIDENT: Play ball. (Applause.)

END 1:09 P.M. EDT
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