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Skriven 2006-12-23 23:31:32 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (061223) for Sat, 2006 Dec 23
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President's Radio Address
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 23, 2006

President's Radio Address


ÿÿÿÿÿ Audio ÿÿÿÿÿ Holidays at the White House 2006 ÿÿÿÿÿ

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. As families across our Nation gather to
celebrate Christmas, Laura and I send our best wishes for the holidays. We
hope that your Christmas will be blessed with family and fellowship.

At this special time of year, we give thanks for Christ's message of love
and hope. Christmas reminds us that we have a duty to others, and we see
that sense of duty fulfilled in the men and women who wear our Nation's
uniform. America is blessed to have fine citizens who volunteer to defend
us in distant lands. For many of them, this Christmas will be spent far
from home, and on Christmas our Nation honors their sacrifice, and thanks
them for all they do to defend our freedom.

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At Christmas, we also recognize the sacrifice of our Nation's military
families. Staying behind when a family member goes to war is a heavy
burden, and it is particularly hard during the holidays. To all our
military families listening today, Laura and I thank you, and we ask the
Almighty to bestow His protection and care on your loved ones as they
protect our Nation.

This Christmas season comes at a time of change here in our Nation's
capital -- with a new Congress set to arrive, a review of our Iraq strategy
underway, and a new Secretary of Defense taking office. If you're serving
on the front lines halfway across the world, it is natural to wonder what
all this means for you. I want our troops to know that while the coming
year will bring change, one thing will not change, and that is our Nation's
support for you and the vital work you do to achieve a victory in Iraq. The
American people are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers, and we will
make sure you have the resources you need to accomplish your mission.

This Christmas, millions of Americans are coming together to show our
deployed forces and wounded warriors love and support. Patriotic groups and
charities all across America are sending gifts and care packages to our
servicemen and women, visiting our troops recovering at military hospitals,
reaching out to children whose moms and dads are serving abroad, and going
to airports to welcome our troops home and to let them know they are
appreciated by a grateful Nation.

One man who's making a difference this holiday season is Jim Wareing. Jim
is the founder of New England Caring for Our Military. This year, Jim
helped organize a gift drive by thousands of students from Massachusetts
and New Hampshire. Students from kindergarten to high school collected more
than 20,000 gifts for our troops abroad. The gifts are being sent to troops
stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Korea, Japan, and Africa. The care
packages include books and puzzles, board games, phone cards, fresh socks,
and T-shirts, and about 7,000 handmade holiday greeting cards and posters.
Jim says, quote "It's probably always hard for troops to be far away from
home, but especially hard on the holidays. I use this as an opportunity to
try to pay them back for my freedom."

Citizens like Jim Wareing represent the true strength of our country, and
they make America proud. I urge every American to find some way to thank
our military this Christmas season. If you see a Soldier, Sailor, Airman,
Marine, or a member of the Coast Guard, take a moment to stop and say,
"Thanks for your service." And if you want to reach out to our troops, or
help out the military family down the street, the Department of Defense has
set up a website to help. It is: AmericaSupportsYou.Mil. This website lists
more than 150 compassionate organizations that can use your help. In this
season of giving, let us stand with the men and women who stand up for
America.

At this special time of year, we reflect on the miraculous life that began
in a humble manger 2,000 years ago. That single life changed the world, and
continues to change hearts today. To everyone celebrating Christmas, Laura
and I wish you a day of glad tidings.

Thank you for listening, and Merry Christmas.

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