MRS. OBAMA:Wow, it’s good to see you guys.You guys are looking really
nice.You going to be able to stay this clean for your parents, you
think?(Laughter.)We’ve got some things for you to get messy with in a
second, okay?I know, it’s very exciting.(Laughter.)You guys look good,
too.(Laughter.)
Welcome to the White House.It’s our favorite time of year, and we’re
just very excited to have you all here.You talk amongst yourselves.You
and Susan, you just do whatever you want.You’re good.(Laughter.)
But I want to start by thanking Susan for that very warm and sincere,
authentic introduction.It was really moving to me to hear your story,
your path to being here this year.And I want to just thank you for
spending the last few days helping to make this house look so
beautiful.I think you guys outdid yourself this year.Each year -- yes,
yes, it gets better and better every year.But more importantly, I want
to thank you for your service and sacrifice as a Gold Star sister, and
I’m so glad you got to decorate the Gold Star tree.I’m glad you had that
experience.
But most of all, I want to thank all of you as well for being here.We
have with us troops, veterans, wounded warriors from across our military
here today to help us kick things off.We’ve got some tremendous
military spouses here -- yay for our spouses -- (applause) -- including
some of the spouses of our Combatant Commanders and Service Chiefs who
are here today.It’s good to see you.I’ll see you guys
tonight.(Applause.)And of course, we have some really fabulous,
good-looking military kids here with us today.Give yourselves a round of
applause.(Applause.)I like the hair.(Laughter.)Yes, you.(Laughter.)
But I have to tell you that your presence here today is a powerful
reminder for all of us what this season is really all about.So often, we
get caught up in the holiday rush –- all the plans for the menu, the
logistics traveling to families, the shopping for people, the making
your list, checking it twice.Sometimes we get caught up in all of that,
but ultimately, that’s not what this season is about.It’s really about
serving others. It’s about giving more than we receive.And it’s about
showing those we love how much they mean to us.
And that’s one of the reasons why, here at the White House, the
holidays are a chance for us to show what our country is grateful for
this holiday season, and that’s all of you, the military families who
serve our nation proudly and give us all so much.Because we know that
too often, your stories of courage and strength often get lost in the
shuffle.And there are a lot of people who don’t realize what you all go
through.
They don’t know that military spouses often have to pick up and move
their families again and again and again, often at the expense of their
own careers.Many people don’t know that you all are parents and
grandparents and siblings, like Susan, who have lost those you love most
in the world.And of course, they don’t know about you kids and all that
you have to go through.They don’t know that oftentimes military kids
have to start at a new school every couple of years, which means a tough
transition for some of them, although they do it so bravely.And they’re
so smart, but they have to adjust to new classes and new friends and
new teammates, and that’s not always easy, right?But you guys get it
done, but a lot of people don’t know that.
But no matter what you all are going through -- this is the thing that
really keeps me going -- is that you guys always, always step up.So many
of you are the ones who are doing all the volunteering, more so than
many average Americans.You’re the ones who are cooking the meals for
your neighbors and taking over the carpool.You guys are the ones who are
organizing food drives and sending care packages.You guys are the ones
who are volunteering everywhere -- in your congregations, school
fundraisers, stepping up whenever your families and friends need you.
And as First Lady, one of my most important missions is to make sure
that you feel this country’s gratitude for everything that you do.And
that’s one of the reasons why Jill Biden and I, we’ve worked so hard
through our Joining Forces initiative, because we want to make sure that
you guys are honored and supported every single day.And that’s why,
once again, we are celebrating our military families with our holiday
decorations here at the White House.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed that, again, in the East Room [Landing],
as Susan mentioned, we’ve got a tree adorned with ceramic star
ornaments trimmed in gold and signed by Gold Star family members to
honor their loved ones.That’s how you kick off your experience here at
the White House -- that the first tree you see.And then once again,
we’re giving folks a chance to pledge to serve their community here at
the White House in honor of our veterans or military families, because
we want to make sure that we’re not just honoring these families during
the holidays, but we’re honoring you every single day of the year.And we
get a wonderful response every year to those commitments, those
pledges.
And then this year, our official White House tree, the big huge tree --
have you guys seen the biggest, hugest tree?Have you seen it?I think
this is the biggest tree we’ve had.And this tree is in honor of our men
and women in uniform.It is beautiful.We’ve got a tree that was so big
that we had to take the hinges off of the front door and take the doors
off -- literally -- just to get this tree in.Can you imagine
that?(Laughter.)It’s huge.It’s the biggest tree ever.But it’s beautiful,
because it has patriotic ornaments and ribbons that read “America the
Brave,” as well as some wonderful cards created by children across the
country to thank all of you for your service to our country.It’s
beautiful.
And in addition to these really wonderful tributes to our military
families, we have some of a -- a few of the special touches to really
build upon our holiday theme this year, which is “A Children’s Winter
Wonderland.”I wish you could see their faces.(Laughter.)They’re giving
me a lot of personality here.
But this year, we’ve got some new twists.We’ve got a lot of fun, new
technologies; we’re playing with technology this year.For instance, in
the Booksellers, where you saw the Bo animals -- did you see Bo and
Sunny?Did you notice that there’s a beautiful interactive snowscape
projection on the East Wall?I haven’t seen it yet.Did you see it?And you
can wave your hands around and it can -- it looks like you’re playing
in the snow.You haven’t seen it.Well, I haven’t seen it either, so we’ll
make sure to get that covered.(Laughter.)
Have you seen the animated versions of Bo and Sunny?I haven’t seen
those yet either.Sunny’s eyes move with a motion sensor.I hope it’s
working.(Laughter.)But it should be fun.And then we’ve got a selection
of the winners of our 3D-printed ornament challenge that are displayed
throughout the house, so that’s something you all can try to find, where
those ornaments are.
And, as always, we have all of the wonderful things that make the
holiday season at the White House so unique and special -- guess how
many trees we have here scattered all throughout the White House?
CHILD:Five?
MRS. OBAMA:Twenty-six.I know.(Laughter.)It’s a lot of trees.We just
have one, two, three -- five here in this room.(Laughter.)So there are
26 trees all throughout the rooms and the hallways.We have a 420-pound
gingerbread house -- you guys are going to see that if you haven’t,
we’re going to go over there soon -- in the State Dining Room.And of
course, just sniffing -- there’s the amazing smell of pine that just
wafts through the house.That’s the best part, really.That really tells
you it’s Christmas.And we can smell it all the way upstairs, it’s really
beautiful.
So I want to thank all 106 volunteers, like Susan, who traveled from
all across the country to help decorate.We couldn’t do this without
them.They come in Thanksgiving weekend, they give up time with their
families.They come when the tree comes on Friday and they spend the next
day in the warehouse picking out ornaments.They come here and they’re
in every room, and they’re proud of what they do.They’re a little
possessive at times, I understand.(Laughter.)And they also help decorate
the Christmas trees that are in our residence as well.
So we are so grateful.We’re grateful for their enthusiasm, for their
creativity.They have -- as you will see, they have done an outstanding
job.The house is just breathtaking.And we’re so proud and grateful.
And because of their hard work, we’re now ready to open the White House
for the holiday season to the 65,000 people who will come through this
house over the next month -- 65,000 people are going to walk in these
rooms where you are, and they’re going to get to see all these
ornaments.And these visits are going to become beautiful, lifelong
memories for everyone who gets to come by.
So again, we’re grateful to the volunteers.We are especially grateful
to all of our servicemembers, our veterans, their families.We’re truly
grateful.We hope you take time to enjoy your time here at the White
House, and see and touch and smell everything you can, and come back for
more if you haven’t seen enough.
But now, we’ve got a little surprise for you guys.Are you guys ready to
get up and move?(Laughter.)You’re going to come with me, we’re going to
do some decorating.(Laughter.)We’ve got stuff -- I think we may have
some cookies or something.
CHILD:Yay!(Laughter.)
MRS. OBAMA:Yeah!Yes, ma’am, do you have a question?
CHILD:I need to -- have to make two because my brother is sick.So I’m making some (inaudible) extras.
MRS. OBAMA:Yeah.She may have to make two of whatever she’s making
because her brother is sick.Yeah, we’re going to -- you can make
eight.(Laughter.)Can make as many as you want!
So you guys are going to follow me.Are you guys ready?And I’m going to
take your kids.The parents -- where are the parents of these beautiful
children?Are you okay with them coming with me for a
moment?(Laughter.)You know, really, don’t get so nervous, because
there’s really nothing they can tear up.(Laughter.)There really isn’t,
so just don’t worry.As long as you don’t care if those pretty dresses
get a little icing on them.
They’re going to come with me, and maybe you’ll get to see Bo and
Sunny.Yeah!Anybody afraid of dogs, so I know ahead of time?Okay, well,
you just stay away from them, okay?(Laughter.)Anybody else who doesn’t
like dogs?They’re friendly dogs, but I understand dog phobia, okay?You
just -- I’ll make sure -- I’ll look for you.
All right, you guys ready to come with me?
CHILDREN:Yes!
MRS. OBAMA:All right, let’s go, let’s do it!
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