WEBVTT 00:02.559 --> 00:04.503 Well , Merry Christmas everybody . 00:06.920 --> 00:09.087 What a wonderful and special evening . 00:09.087 --> 00:12.359 Thank you all for joining us , our 00:12.359 --> 00:14.359 family , almost all of our family , 00:14.359 --> 00:16.470 we're missing 3 , but we'll have them 00:16.470 --> 00:18.526 for Christmas . And we want to thank 00:18.526 --> 00:20.581 all of your families as well for the 00:20.581 --> 00:22.415 support you give as warriors and 00:22.415 --> 00:24.637 civilians inside this department , uh , 00:24.637 --> 00:26.637 to the entire country in support of 00:26.637 --> 00:28.859 this mission . I see some kiddos here . 00:29.629 --> 00:32.330 Excellent . I hope all you kiddos know , 00:32.849 --> 00:35.220 uh , that your moms and dads are heroes . 00:36.040 --> 00:37.929 Who fight and work to support our 00:37.929 --> 00:40.590 country , so I keep them away from home 00:40.590 --> 00:42.757 a little bit more than I should . They 00:42.757 --> 00:45.799 work hard , uh , and they're heroes to 00:45.799 --> 00:47.855 support the country . I hope you get 00:47.855 --> 00:49.910 some hot chocolates , some cookies , 00:49.910 --> 00:52.630 and maybe , maybe a photo with Santa . 00:52.680 --> 00:55.779 I don't know . I can't promise , 00:55.840 --> 00:58.479 haven't seen him . But I've , we have a 00:58.479 --> 01:01.220 lot of radars . I heard he could be in 01:01.220 --> 01:04.779 the area . We are gathered to celebrate 01:04.779 --> 01:06.890 the blessing of Christmas season here 01:06.890 --> 01:08.779 at the Pentagon , and a couple of 01:08.779 --> 01:11.069 months ago , my wife said , Babe , 01:11.220 --> 01:13.442 President Trump brought Merry Christmas 01:13.442 --> 01:15.664 back . Uh , we're gonna bring Christmas 01:15.664 --> 01:17.831 back to the Pentagon , and that's what 01:17.831 --> 01:21.739 we're doing . We are going to 01:21.739 --> 01:24.300 light a new permanent Christmas tree , 01:24.339 --> 01:27.639 and this one is a beauty 14 ft Nellie 01:27.639 --> 01:30.290 Stevens Holly from Chantilly , Virginia 01:30.290 --> 01:33.059 local . They say when the tree was 01:33.059 --> 01:36.160 planted there were bald eagles flying 01:36.160 --> 01:38.620 overhead . True story , fitting for 01:38.620 --> 01:41.209 this building . It will grow to 30 ft 01:41.209 --> 01:44.180 tall and live for at least 50 years , a 01:44.180 --> 01:46.236 fitting tribute to the warrior ethos 01:46.236 --> 01:50.040 here . Uh , it replaced a small service 01:50.040 --> 01:52.540 berry tree that was slated for removal 01:52.540 --> 01:56.349 anyway , so it made sense . But we're 01:56.349 --> 01:58.405 here to remember the real reason for 01:58.405 --> 02:00.738 the season . It's easy to get caught up . 02:00.738 --> 02:03.071 It happens with our family all the time . 02:03.071 --> 02:05.127 The commercialism of the moment is a 02:05.127 --> 02:07.405 very real thing . The commercials come , 02:07.405 --> 02:09.738 the clicking goes , the lists grow , uh , 02:09.738 --> 02:11.960 you get to the cards and the travel and 02:11.960 --> 02:11.389 the end of your business and you get 02:11.389 --> 02:13.750 wrapped up in it . But in this season 02:13.750 --> 02:16.360 of Advent Christians are called to 02:16.360 --> 02:19.460 pause and reflect . To turn away from 02:19.460 --> 02:21.809 the things of the world and look upward 02:22.259 --> 02:24.370 toward the anticipation of the coming 02:24.370 --> 02:27.339 of our Savior Jesus Christ . We 02:27.339 --> 02:29.395 remember and await the coming of our 02:29.395 --> 02:31.506 Lord . He was born of the Virgin Mary 02:31.506 --> 02:34.029 into the humblest . Of circumstances in 02:34.029 --> 02:37.119 the city of Bethlehem . The savior who 02:37.119 --> 02:39.320 took on flesh and made the ultimate 02:39.320 --> 02:41.042 sacrifice for all of us in our 02:41.042 --> 02:44.669 salvation that Is the real reason for 02:44.669 --> 02:47.449 the season . So in this season we 02:47.449 --> 02:50.009 worship , we reflect , we rest , and of 02:50.009 --> 02:51.676 course with our families , we 02:51.676 --> 02:55.250 eventually feast . We prepare to spend 02:55.250 --> 02:57.417 time together , remember the ones that 02:57.417 --> 02:59.729 we love and we remember the ones that 02:59.729 --> 03:01.785 are fighting to protect all of us to 03:01.785 --> 03:05.570 bring peace on earth and 03:05.570 --> 03:09.320 goodwill toward men except 03:09.320 --> 03:10.839 narco terrorists . 03:13.839 --> 03:15.561 We want to ensure every family 03:15.561 --> 03:18.360 everywhere enjoys a peaceful Christmas 03:18.360 --> 03:20.638 Eve and Christmas Day . That's our job . 03:21.580 --> 03:24.309 President Trump Is bringing on behalf 03:24.309 --> 03:26.365 of the American people peace through 03:26.365 --> 03:28.800 strength , and you get that peace 03:28.800 --> 03:31.100 through strength . This is the strength 03:31.100 --> 03:33.660 department . Our job is to stand ready , 03:33.750 --> 03:35.694 stand tall , and be prepared , and 03:35.694 --> 03:37.917 that's what our men and women do around 03:37.917 --> 03:40.028 the globe every day . Jen and I had a 03:40.028 --> 03:42.250 chance to go out to uh aircraft carrier 03:42.380 --> 03:44.491 and a destroyer over Thanksgiving and 03:44.491 --> 03:46.602 eat some Thanksgiving turkey with the 03:46.602 --> 03:48.824 troops . It was incredible . I couldn't 03:48.824 --> 03:48.690 think of a better way . To spend 03:48.690 --> 03:50.912 Thanksgiving and as someone who's spent 03:50.912 --> 03:53.050 3 of those Thanksgiving Christmas 03:53.050 --> 03:55.272 seasons away from family , it's a mixed 03:55.272 --> 03:57.328 feeling , right ? You , you love who 03:57.328 --> 03:59.494 you're with , the folks you're serving 03:59.494 --> 04:01.550 with , it's a sort of unique special 04:01.550 --> 04:01.350 moment you're , you know , you're only 04:01.350 --> 04:03.350 gonna have a few times or once with 04:03.350 --> 04:05.572 these people , but you're also thinking 04:05.572 --> 04:07.739 about everybody back home . I mean you 04:07.739 --> 04:09.739 waiting for that to get a chance to 04:09.739 --> 04:11.628 make that phone call or send that 04:11.628 --> 04:13.794 message and waiting for next year when 04:13.794 --> 04:15.628 you'll be with them knowing that 04:15.628 --> 04:17.683 everyone's a few inches taller , the 04:17.683 --> 04:19.683 little ones and you've missed a few 04:19.683 --> 04:21.683 memories , but you're doing it this 04:21.683 --> 04:23.850 department does it for the rest of the 04:23.850 --> 04:26.200 country . And so we remember the reason 04:26.200 --> 04:28.200 for the season Jesus Christ born in 04:28.200 --> 04:30.519 Bethlehem , but we also here in a 04:30.519 --> 04:32.630 special way in this city in this 04:33.000 --> 04:35.279 courtyard , remember the men and women 04:35.279 --> 04:39.119 who do it for all of us . I that's who 04:39.119 --> 04:42.119 we serve . I serve Jesus Christ my Lord 04:42.119 --> 04:44.286 and Savior , and then we serve the men 04:44.286 --> 04:46.063 and women who serve us . We are 04:46.063 --> 04:48.286 servants and this season we think about 04:48.286 --> 04:50.397 them , we pray for them , we remember 04:50.397 --> 04:52.452 them and may this tree honor them as 04:52.452 --> 04:55.000 well , uh , as they are apart from 04:55.000 --> 04:56.944 their families , we remember their 04:56.944 --> 05:00.230 sacrifice and their dedication . And 05:00.230 --> 05:03.290 that The ribbons and the bows and the 05:03.290 --> 05:05.401 presents and all the beautiful things 05:05.401 --> 05:07.512 under the tree , uh , are a wonderful 05:07.512 --> 05:09.679 earthly symbol of the way we love each 05:09.679 --> 05:11.846 other but that Christ loved us so much 05:11.846 --> 05:13.901 to come in human form in the form of 05:13.901 --> 05:15.929 the most humble possible way to the 05:15.929 --> 05:17.985 Virgin Mary in the form of a baby in 05:17.985 --> 05:20.190 nowhereville , Bethlehem . Uh , to 05:20.190 --> 05:22.412 fulfill the promise Christ made to save 05:22.412 --> 05:24.579 the world and so we remember that here 05:24.579 --> 05:26.357 at the Pentagon . So join us in 05:26.357 --> 05:28.412 observing this Christmas season . It 05:28.412 --> 05:30.619 doesn't stop right here . Uh , we put 05:30.619 --> 05:32.890 together a series of Christmas events , 05:33.190 --> 05:35.190 uh , to include a Christmas worship 05:35.190 --> 05:37.134 service in a couple of weeks where 05:37.134 --> 05:39.134 we'll have , uh , actually Franklin 05:39.134 --> 05:41.301 Graham is gonna join us to , uh , to , 05:41.301 --> 05:43.523 to give some remarks and we , and we'll 05:43.523 --> 05:45.746 worship as well so we're we're doing up 05:45.746 --> 05:47.912 Christmas big here because we should , 05:47.912 --> 05:50.079 I mean . George Washington took bended 05:50.079 --> 05:52.450 knee because he understood he needed 05:52.739 --> 05:54.850 the help and assistance and wisdom of 05:54.850 --> 05:57.619 Providence . The task was too big . The 05:57.619 --> 05:59.563 threat too big , the literally the 05:59.563 --> 06:01.786 British Empire , impossible to defeat . 06:01.910 --> 06:03.910 In the dead of winter , the cold of 06:03.910 --> 06:06.021 night , of course , then not only did 06:06.021 --> 06:08.188 he pray , but he attacked on Christmas 06:08.188 --> 06:09.966 Eve . Uh , we have that kind of 06:09.966 --> 06:12.132 mentality here too . We're gonna be on 06:12.132 --> 06:14.354 bended knee , appealing to Providence , 06:14.354 --> 06:16.521 but then always poised and ready to do 06:16.521 --> 06:18.632 the business of the American people . 06:18.632 --> 06:20.959 That is the unique spirit of Christmas 06:20.959 --> 06:23.720 at the Pentagon . And I , I wanna thank 06:23.720 --> 06:26.670 you all for joining with us tonight , 06:27.119 --> 06:29.286 uh , for , for kicking it off with the 06:29.286 --> 06:31.508 lighting of this tree , and we hope you 06:31.508 --> 06:34.079 enjoy some hot chocolate and some 06:34.079 --> 06:36.459 treats and some games and whatever 06:36.459 --> 06:38.829 other good stuffs around here and maybe , 06:38.920 --> 06:41.089 maybe we'll see Santa Claus . 06:44.549 --> 06:46.660 So God bless you all . God bless your 06:46.660 --> 06:48.771 families . Thank you for joining us . 06:48.809 --> 06:52.209 And in a moment When that one 06:52.209 --> 06:52.880 passes . 06:57.869 --> 07:00.036 We're gonna light the tree to kick off 07:00.036 --> 07:02.091 the Christmas season and a series of 07:02.091 --> 07:04.258 events that are coming with it . Thank 07:04.258 --> 07:06.313 you , babe . Thank you for making it 07:06.313 --> 07:08.536 happen . Everybody here . Thank you for 07:08.536 --> 07:12.410 being here . All right , kiddos , you 07:12.410 --> 07:14.577 ready ? Should we count down and light 07:14.577 --> 07:16.743 the tree ? All right . All right , put 07:16.743 --> 07:18.854 your hands on it , Gwenny . Everybody 07:18.854 --> 07:21.021 else get up there , Luke . All right , 07:21.021 --> 07:23.132 we're gonna count down from 5 . We'll 07:23.132 --> 07:24.859 get it right . All right , 07:25.000 --> 07:29.609 54321 . 07:30.869 --> 07:31.869 Uh 07:51.450 --> 07:53.929 As we gather around the Christmas tree 07:53.929 --> 07:57.369 this holiday season , my , oh my 07:57.369 --> 07:59.959 goodness , what is that clinking sound . 08:00.619 --> 08:02.769 Oh , what's that on the building over 08:02.769 --> 08:06.609 on the left . Hopefully it's not that 08:06.609 --> 08:08.750 3 decker sauerkraut and toadstool 08:08.750 --> 08:12.059 sandwich with arsenic sauce . No , it's 08:12.059 --> 08:15.970 not that Grinchy character . It's Santa . 08:57.390 --> 09:01.190 Max Max Get 09:01.190 --> 09:04.340 the sleigh . We're leaving . These 09:04.340 --> 09:08.219 people are smiling . I can't work 09:08.219 --> 09:11.200 under these conditions . Note to self 09:12.070 --> 09:14.390 Next year we fake an illness . 09:27.409 --> 09:29.909 Ladies and gentlemen , Please continue 09:29.909 --> 09:32.419 to enjoy our musical entertainment 09:32.669 --> 09:35.669 courtesy of the United States Navy Band . 09:36.450 --> 09:39.250 Have a wonderful holiday season and 09:39.250 --> 09:40.330 merry Christmas .