Good evening.

I want to thank the organizers of tonight’s gathering for all their hard work.

It’s an honor to join you all tonight.

As you know, there is a vigorous debate going on in our country over our military involvement in Iraq and elsewhere.

In America, we enjoy the right to such free and open debates. 

And I’m sure there are a variety of opinions on this topic even here within this gathering.

But regardless of what you think about our policies regarding Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, or the various other hotspots in the world, there is one thing we can all agree on with rock-solid conviction:

We are all extremely proud of our brave men and women who wear the uniform and serve our country with distinction all over the world.

You know, it’s just two days until Christmas.

That means in two days, most of us will be enjoying a day off from work, spending time with family and friends, in the comfort of our homes.

It’s such a wonderful blessing every year.

We reunite with distant relatives. 

We share stories and catch up with loved ones.

We exchange gifts.

There’s a general feeling of goodwill in the air. 

But as you sit down to Christmas dinner, or open presents under the tree, or attend a church service with your family, take a minute to remember our troops and to pray for them.

Because while we are celebrating one of the most blessed times of the year, there are men and women stationed across the globe who are protecting our way of life.

From Baghdad to South Korea, Germany to Cuba, our military is standing post, every single day of the year.  Including Christmas.

They are sacrificing time with wives, husbands, sons, daughters, parents, brothers, and sisters so that we can gather in freedom and safety.

I distinctly remember the Christmases I spent away from my family during my own service in the Air Force.

For me it was during the Vietnam War.  Like today’s soldiers serving overseas, we had a job to do, and that left precious little time for any kind of Christmas celebrations.

You might have decorated your own bunk with things you could find on base, or things your family sent you in the mail.

But other than that, there was work to be done and missions to fly, and you just didn’t have much time or resources left for celebrating.

It’s not pleasant for our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen, but we live in freedom because so many men and women are willing to serve.

If you know one of them, thank them for what they’re doing on your behalf.

It’s also important that we remember the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The loss of a loved one is never an easy burden to bear.

But my hope and prayer is that these families will take some amount of comfort from the knowledge that their loved one died in the noble effort to advance and defend human freedom around the globe. 

I thank all of you for taking the time to come out and honor our military tonight.

It’s ceremonies like this one, all over the country, that show our troops how much they’re appreciated.

And that really does make a difference to them.

May God bless you and your families this Christmas, and may God continue to bless and protect our great nation and the men and women who defend her.