Obamas Deliver Christmas Greeting, Special Salute to Military
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama delivered a Christmas greeting to people across America through this week's presidential address, and offered a special note of gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. military and their families for their service to the country.
"To all our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen - I have no greater honor than serving as your Commander in Chief," the president stated in Thursday's address. "I've been awed by your selfless spirit, your eagerness to serve - at the Naval Academy and West Point. I've been energized by your dedication to duty-from Baghdad to the Korean Peninsula. Michelle and I have been moved by your determination - wounded warriors at Walter Reed and Bethesda, fighting to recover, to get back to your units."
So while the nation is still struggling to recover from an "extraordinary recession that has so many Americans hurting," Obama pointed out that there is "so much to celebrate this Christmas."
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"A message of peace and brotherhood that continues to inspire more than 2,000 after Jesus' birth. The love of family and friends. The bonds of community and country," the president listed. "And the character and courage of our men and women in uniform who are far from home for the holidays, away from their families, risking their lives to protect ours."
As of February 2009, there were more than 1.4 million Americans on active duty in the military with over 800 thousand additional people in the seven reserve components. Around 1.1 million personnel on active duty are said to be statioined within the United States and its territories while the rest are overseas.
As of March 2008, U.S. armed forces were stationed at more than 820 installations in at least 39 countries.
Earlier this month, Obama ordered the deployment of an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. He has also ordered the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
Before concluding his Christmas greeting, the president urged every American to do something to support the nation's troops, even if it's as simple as just saying "thank you."
And he reminded the men and women overseas that the thoughts and prayers of countless Americas are with them.
"So to all our men and women in uniform spending the holidays far from home - whether it's at a base here in the states, a mess hall in Iraq or a remote outpost in Afghanistan, know that you are in our thoughts and our prayers," the president said in conclusion.
"And this holiday season - and every Holiday season - know that we are doing everything in our power to make sure you can succeed in your missions and come home safe to your families," he added.
"Merry Christmas, everybody."
