Point guard who is the allstar, and ill play the substitute rarely gets into the game. Im sorry, im hearing some talk. Okay, our next performer getting pretty good, mr. President , pretty good, not so much on the left hand, but the right hand im pretty good. Tom . What are you doing . Moneyy. I, im just down here reading the teleprompter with the president of the United States. Okay. I know, but were in the middle show, and why are you sitting next to the president . Well, im pitching him a film see i understand hes going to have some free time in a couple years. Something to want do. Im hoping that he and i can together. Ie really . The idea . Well, bit two hand some bodacious cops, who fight crime and at nighty, play basketball in the nba. Tom, that sound like a really great idea. Mr. Clutch and the touch. Well,ly be the first in line to see that film. Mr. President , Merrill Streep as the team and okay, tom, while you work on that, lets get back to the music. Please welcome the multigrammy winning singer, songwriter and actor, neo. Merry christmas. Im dreaming tonight of a even more i love, than i normally do. Know its a long. Back, i promise you, please welcome the secretary of the i there are and president and chairman of and chairman of National Park foundation. Hello, everyone. Thank you for being here and thanks so much to the national and the National Park service for hosting this tradition yearay after year. Id like to offer each of you a welcome to president s park which is managed by the National Park service and the of the interior, and of course home to the first so delightedere theyre here today. It a great honor to help care of the extraordinary system 401 National Parks that commemorate our history, our and our incredibly beautiful landscapes. Thousandsroud of the of dedicated federal employees and many, many volunteers who public land, our waters and our wildlife for the benefit of all americans. We are blessed with the spirit of the holidays. Faiths and traditions mark this darkest month of the joy of celebrating the charity, of love, of giving, of friends. D its a time of year when we are reminded that its truly better give than to receive. And that our lives ultimately we measured not by what acquire or the positions we we lovet by how much and are loved by others. So for the next few weeks this beautifully decorated tree will stand as a symbol of this shining its light in our nations capital, and i trust in who visit. Of all toits now my on who are welcome someone whose leadership and example inspire mess and us to be forces for good in our in our nation. D ladies and gentlemen, the 44th president of the United States of america, barak obama. Everybody ristmas, on outthis party going back and we thought wed join you. To thank secretary jewel introductionthe but for all that you and everybody who is part of the interior department and the park service do to protect the magnificent outdoors for our children and for future generations. I want to thank jonathan jarvis, winning and everybody at the National Park service and the National Park foundation for special events each and every Holiday Season. I want everybody to give it up for our charming christmas host and ritatom hanks wilson. [cheers and applause] we have so enjoyed the incredible performers, including labelle. Nd only patty of finally, thanks to all you who are here and watching at joining us to celebrate this wonderful holiday tradition. Back in 1923, school kids here towashington wrote a letter the white house asking if they could put a Christmas Tree on lawn. Uth and more than 90 years and a few later, thevergreens national Christmas Tree still of hope andymbol holiday spirit. And we still gather as a country, each year, to light it. We still have the school kids this yeartoo, but theyve given all the state and territory trees surrounding the national Christmas Tree their First Digital upgrade. Young women from all 50 states usingheir computers, their coding skills, to control the colors and patterns of the on these trees. So thanks to those wonderful incrediblyt is impressive, its actually one of the few things that tom hanks cannot do. Lighting the tree has entered into the 21st wetury, the story that remember this season dates back more than 2,000 years. Hope. He story of the birth a singular child into of circumstances, a child that would grow up to live humility and kindness and compassion, and travel with a message of empathy and understanding. Who taught us to care for the poor, and the marginalized, and those who are different from ourselves. And more than two millennia he lived still compels us to do our best to build a more just and tolerant and decent world. Familystory dear to my as christians, but its meaning is one embraced by all people as around theountry and world. Regardless of how they pray or all. Er they pray at and thats to love our neighbors as ourselves. Be one anothers keepers, to have faith in one another. Its something thats good not just at christmas time but all the time. Finally this christmas we count blessings and give thanks to the men and women much our military who helped make those blessings possible. And as we hold our loved ones tight, lets remember the military families whose loved ones are far from home. Heros, they deserve our heart felt gratitude and our support. Rted [cheers and applause] of michelle, ma lee a, sasha, mom in law, and our reindeer, i want to wish all of of you a very, Merry Christmas and a holiday joy. D with god bless you, and god bless the United States of america. [cheers and applause] jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh. Jingle bells, jingle bells, the way, oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse sleigh. Jingle bells, jingle bells, all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a onehorse open sleigh. Job, Merry Christmas. You. Roud of thank you, you guys were great. Thet you just multitalented star. That was wonderful. Do . Hat are does he great job. Christmas. Merry thank you. Give them a big round of applause. Merry christmas, everybody. Thank you. Thanks for your service. You guys. High five. First Lady Michelle obama welcomed military families to the white house earlier this month, for the first public viewing of the 2014 white House Holiday decorations. Up next on cspan well show you some of those decorations, followed by remarks from the lady. When a mother placed a star on the tree, lost her son in and you see the tears come down her face, they didnt give kleenex. Because you dont know when you come in to volunteer, you have no idea where youre going to be placed, and i think each much us placet in a significant that, i have a grandson who was a marine for four years and two of those years he was in iraq and he was, god bless him, he was shot the second time when he right after fallujah. I see a child placing his fathers star on there or i that could have been me. Respect these to gold star families. Sometimes its chocolate,. Ingerbread are you having fun . Yes. Excellent, a having fun too. Im afternoon, everybody, so pleased to be here. My name is susan. Sister. Ld star last december i read a newspaper a gold about a mother, star mother who had lost her son in iraq, and she had just the white house. She had worked as a holiday meanseer, and that decorating all the beautiful now. S that you see here what peeked my interest most about what she had been assigned oneo was that she was the that got to decorate the gold star tree, which you have seen downstairs in the entry lobby. Story, i vowed to myself at that time, didnt tell iybody else about this, but thought i would love to do that. I would love to be a white house have the and get to same opportunity to honor my brother. My brother was a Lance Corporal states marine corps, Lance Corporal jed to our died in Service Country on september 21, 1967. In vietnam. Two years later, jed was awarded the congressional medal of honor bravery. And i have to tell you, the past this has been an honor and a privilege to have been chosen to do this, and to be here as a holiday volunteer,. Ecorator i did indeed get to decorate or help to decorate the gold star tree. And in honor of my brother it a wonderful, wonderful experience. Experience beyond description, and i have to say right up to this moment and the afternoon,st always. Herish this i know to those of you who have lost a loved one in service to country, i know the pain that you it and i know that you continue to feel it. We have good days, we have bad days, and we always struggle loss. Hat theres one person here today that id like to introduce who an inspiration to so many of us. And knows about what im talking, this indescribable love that we have for our military, our family members, those that weve lost. Certainly with her foundation joining forces, which youre all familiar with, i would like to welcome our first lady, michelle obama. [applause] you notice your kids didnt stand up. laughter know, my kids dont stant up either. Wow, it good to see you guys. You guys are looking really nice. Are you going to be able to stay for your parents, do you think . Weve got some things for you to get messy with in a second, okay. I know. Guys look good, too. laughter welcome to the white house. Our favorite time of year. And were just very excited to here. Ou all you talk amongst yourselves, you and susan, you just do whatever want, youre good. But i want to start by thanking that very warm and authentic introduction. It was really moving to me to story, your path to being here this year, and i want thank you for spending the last few days helping to make this house look so beautiful. You guys outdid yourself this year. Yes. Better everyr and year much but more importantly i want to thank you for your and sacrifice as a gold star sister. Im glad you had that experience. But most of all, i want to thank you as well for being here. We have with us troops, veterans, Wounded Warriors from across our military here today kick things off. Weve got some tremendous military spouses here. For our spouses. [applause] including some of the spouses of commanders and Service Chiefs who are here today. Is good to see you. [applause] and of course we have some lookingabulous good military kids here with us today. Give yourselves a round of applause. [applause] yeah. I like the hair. You. laughter but i have to tell you that your presence here today is a powerful reminder for all of us, what the season is really all about. So often we get caught up in the the plans forall logistics,he traveling the shopping for making your list, checking it tryings. Sometimes we get caught up in all that. But ultimately thats not what this season is about. Its really about serving others, and its about giving than we receive. And its about showing those we us. How much they mean to and thats one the reasons why here at the white house the toidays are a chance for us show what our country is grateful for this holiday really all ofats you. All of you, the military families who serve our nation proudly and give us all so much. Because we know that too often stories of courage and strength often get lost in the shuffle. And there are a lot of people who dont realize what you all through. They don 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 dont know that you and grandparents and siblings like susan who have lost those you love most in the world. And of course they dont know yout you kids and all that have to go through. They don know that oftentimes military kids have to star at a new school every couple of years. Which means a tough transition them, although they do it so bravely. And they are so smart. To adjust to new classes and new friends, and new teammates, and thats not always easy, right . But you guys get it done. But a lot of peel don know that. But no matter what you all are going through, this is the thing really keeps me going. You guys always, always step up. Ones whof you are the were doing all the volunteering, more so than many average americans. Youre the ones who are cooking the meals for your neighbors and carpool. Er the you guys are the ones who are organizing food drives and packages. Re you guys are the ones who were everywhere, near congregations, school fundraisers, stepping up when friendur families and need you. And as first lady, one of my missions is to make sure that you feel this gratitude. For everything that you do. And thats one of the reasons biden and i work so hard through our joining forces initiative, because we want to make sure that you guys are supported every single day, and thats why once again we are celebrating our military families with our holiday decorations here at the white house. Youve noticed that again in the east room, as got amentioned, weve tree adorned with ceramic star ornaments trimmed in gold, and star familyld members to honor their loved ones. Thats how you kick off your experience here at the white house, thats the first tree you see. Again were giving folks a chance to pledge to serve their community, here at house in honor of our veterans and military families, because we want to make sure were not just honoring the families during the holidays, but were honoring you every single day of the year. And we get a wonderful response commitments, those those pledges. And in this year, our official huge house tree, the big tree, have you guys seen the biggest hugest tree . Have you seen it . This is the biggest tree weve had. And this tree is in honor of our men and women in uniform. It is beautiful. So bigot a tree that was that we had to take the hinges off the front door and take the off, literally, just to get this tree in. Can you imagine that . Huge. But the biggest tree ever, its beautiful because it has patriotic ornaments and ribbons read america the brave, as well as some wonderful cards created by children across the fortry to thank all of you your service to our country. Its beautiful. And in addition to these really wonderful tributes to our someary families, we have of, a few of the special touches to really build upon our holiday this year, which is a childrens winter wonderland. Yeah. I wish you could see their faces. Ofyre giving me a lot personality here. But in year weve got some new twists, weve got a lot of fun technologist, were playing with technology this year. For instance in the book saw the bowre you animals, did you see bo and sunny . Did you notice that theres a snow scape projection on the east wall . I havent seen it yet. Can wave your hands around, and looks like youre playing in the snow. You havent seen it. Well, i havent seen it either. So well make sure to get that covered. Seen the animated versionings of bo and sunny . Either. T seen those yet sunnys eyes move, with a motion sensor. I hope its working. But it should be fun. A selectionve got of the winners of our 3d printed ornament challenge that are house,ed throughout the so thats something you all can try to find where those original orange amounts are. And we have all the wonderful things that make the Holiday Season at the white house so special. Guess how many trees we have scattered all throughout the white house. Five. 26. Thats a lot of trees. We just have twun two five here in this room. There are 26 trees all throughout the rooms and hallways. A 420pound gingerbread house. See thatare going to if you havent, were going to go over there soon, in the state of coursem. And theres the amazing smell of pine that just wafts through the house, thats the best part really. That really tells you its christmas, and we can smell it upstairs, its really beautiful. So i want to thank all 106 whonteers, like susan, traveled from all across the country to help decorate. Withoutnt do this them. They come in, thanksgiving they gave up time with their families. They come when the tree comes on friday and they spend the next in the warehouse picking out ornaments, they come here and theyre innerry room and theyre of what they do. Theyre a little possessive at they, i understand and also helped decorate the Christmas Trees that are in our so were as well. Grateful for their enthusiasm, their creativity. They have, as you will see, they done an outstanding job, the house is just breath taking, proud and grateful. Because of their hard work, were now ready to open the 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 allre going to get to see these ornaments. And these visit are going to life longutiful memories for everyone who gets to come by. So again we are grateful to the volunteers. We are especially grateful to all of our service members, our families, were truly grateful. Enjoye you take time to your time here at the white house and see and touch and smell everything that you can. And come back for more if you enough. Seen but now weve government a little surprise for you guys. Ready to get up and move . Youre going to come with me, do someing to decorating. Got stuff, i think we may something. Ookies or yeah. As, maam, do you have question . inaudible question have to make two of whatever shes making because her brother is sick. You can make eight. As many as you want. So you guys are going to follow me. Rae . Ou guys and im going to take your kids, the parents, where are the beautiful these children . Are you okay with them coming with me for a moment . laughter get sow, really dont nervous, because theres really up. Ing they can tear there really isnt. So just dont worry, as long as prettyt care if those dresses get a little icing on them. Theyre going to come with me, to see boyou will get and sunny. Yeah. Anybody afraid of dogs . So i know ahead of time. Okay. Well, you just stay away from them, okay. Else who doesnt like dogs . Ieyre friendly dogs, but understand dog phobia. Okay. Ook for you, are you guys ready to come with me . All right, lets go, lets do it. Buy, you guys. Were going to give you cider cookies, well give you something. Lets go. Did everybody get to do an ornament . An ornament yet . Right here at this table, can you make an ornament. All right, you guys, happy holidays. House