President and Mrs. Bush Attend 2008 Lighting of the National Christmas Tree Cere
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President and Mrs. Bush Attend 2008 Lighting1 of the National Christmas Tree Ceremony

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, thank you for the introduction and thank you for the warm welcome. Laura and I are pleased to welcome all of you here for one of Washington's great traditions, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree.


Santa, thank you for finally showing up. (Laughter.) I know you've come a long way. After all, you do live in the North Pole. You may have heard that Laura and I are going to have plenty of time next year. (Laughter.) So we look forward to returning the favor. The problem is we're going to be short on an airplane. (Laughter.) Have you got an extra sleigh? (Laughter.)

I welcome the members of my Cabinet; the administration and their families; members of Congress and their families; Vin Cipolla; Mary Bomar, the Director of the National Park Service -- (applause) -- Peggy O'Dell, Regional Director, National Capital Region of the National Park Service. (Applause.) And all the National Park Service employees, we thank you for your dedication2 and work. (Applause.)

Laura and I are thrilled to be here with our dear friend, Reverend Luis León. All the entertainers -- thank you for being here. You were fabulous3 tonight. We appreciate your performance. (Applause.) We especially welcome the folks from Enterprise, Alabama. (Applause.) And we thank the School Choir4 for showing the determination and grit5 of some really fine people.

We want to thank all the volunteers who designed and created the ornaments6 for our state trees.

Today we celebrate the 85th anniversary of the National Christmas Tree lighting. In times of calm, and in times of challenge, Americans have gathered for this ceremony. The simple story we remember during the season speaks to every generation. It is the story of a humble7 birth in a quiet town, and the story of one life that changed millions more. For two millennia8, the story of Christmas has brought joy to families, comfort to communities, and hope to hearts around the world.

During Christmas we celebrate the blessings9 of the season, and the blessings that surround us every day. And the greatest of these blessings is freedom -- the Almighty's gift to every man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth. (Applause.)

And today, we give thanks to the brave men and women who protect the American people by defending freedom around the world. (Applause.) Over the past eight years, my greatest honor as President has been serving as Commander-in-Chief of the finest military ever known. (Applause.)

Our men and women in uniform have stepped forward to defend our nation during a time of war. They serve with courage and with honor, and they've made incredible sacrifices. Many of them will spend this Christmas stationed in distant lands, far from the families they love. Yet they're never far from our thoughts, and they are always in our prayers. America honors their service, and we are grateful to the sacrifice of the families who stand by their side. (Applause.)

Some of those families are with us tonight, and Laura and I are pleased to be joined by Kayleigh Kepler and Lindsey Van Horn. Lindsey's dad is in Baghdad. Kayleigh's dad will deploy10 to Iraq next year. Kayleigh and Lindsey, America is safer because of your dads, and moms and dads across America who have stepped forward to defend our country.

And now I'm going to ask Kayleigh and Lindsey to get up here with Laura -- to please come up with Laura -- (laughter) -- and help us light this beautiful tree.

Everybody join -- five, four, three, two, one! (Applause.)



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1 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
2 dedication pxMx9     
n.奉献,献身,致力,题献,献辞
参考例句:
  • We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
  • Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。
3 fabulous ch6zI     
adj.极好的;极为巨大的;寓言中的,传说中的
参考例句:
  • We had a fabulous time at the party.我们在晚会上玩得很痛快。
  • This is a fabulous sum of money.这是一笔巨款。
4 choir sX0z5     
n.唱诗班,唱诗班的席位,合唱团,舞蹈团;v.合唱
参考例句:
  • The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
  • The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。
5 grit LlMyH     
n.沙粒,决心,勇气;v.下定决心,咬紧牙关
参考例句:
  • The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
  • I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。
6 ornaments 2bf24c2bab75a8ff45e650a1e4388dec     
n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 );点缀;装饰品;首饰v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
  • Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低
参考例句:
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见,他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
8 millennia 3DHxf     
n.一千年,千禧年
参考例句:
  • For two millennia, exogamy was a major transgression for Jews. 两千年来,异族通婚一直是犹太人的一大禁忌。
  • In the course of millennia, the dinosaurs died out. 在几千年的时间里,恐龙逐渐死绝了。
9 blessings 52a399b218b9208cade790a26255db6b     
n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福
参考例句:
  • Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
10 deploy Yw8x7     
v.(军)散开成战斗队形,布置,展开
参考例句:
  • The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
  • The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。
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