Radio Address by the President to the Nation, 11-29-08

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 26, 2008

President's Radio Address

President's Radio Address

Audio

En Español

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, Americans gather with loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving. This holiday season is a time of fellowship and peace. And it is a time to give thanks for our many blessings.

During this holiday season, we give thanks for generations of Americans who overcame hardships to create and sustain a free Nation. When the Pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving nearly four centuries ago, they had already suffered through a harsh and bitter winter. But they were willing to endure that adversity to live in a land where they could worship the Almighty without persecution. When President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, the United States was in the midst of a terrible civil war. But in that hour of trial he gave thanks -- because he believed America would weather the storm and emerge into a new era of liberty.

During this holiday season, we give thanks for the kindness of citizens throughout our Nation. It is a testament to the goodness of our people that on Thanksgiving, millions of Americans reach out to those who have little. The true spirit of the holidays can be seen in the generous volunteers who bring comfort to the poor and the sick and the elderly. These men and women are selfless members of our Nation's armies of compassion -- and they make our country a better place, one heart and one soul at a time.

Finally, I have a special note of thanks to the American people. On this, my last Thanksgiving as your President, I am thankful for the good will, kind words, and heartfelt prayers that so many of you have offered me during the past eight years. I have been blessed to represent such decent, brave, and caring people. For that, I will always be grateful, and I will always be honored. Thank you for listening.

I like this one better -- bet you do too.

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 27, 2008

President Bush Makes Thanksgiving Day Telephone Calls to Members of the Armed Forces

White House News

Thanksgiving 2008

The President made telephone calls this morning to exemplary members of the Armed Forces who are stationed in remote locations worldwide to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and to thank them for their service to our Nation.

Information on CALL RECIPIENTS

Staff Sergeant Kevin R. Everett, U.S. Army (Anchorage, Alaska)
Staff Sergeant Kevin R. Everett, U.S. Army, deployed to Afghanistan as a member of the 101st Division Special Troop Battalion. Staff Sergeant Everett trains incoming soldiers on tactical operations and coordinates and establishes deconfliction measures for airspace between all artillery units and aircraft operating in RC-E Afghanistan. This is Staff Sergeant Everett's second rotation.

Staff Sergeant David A. "Dave" Mickem, U.S. Army (Lynnville, Indiana)
Staff Sergeant David A. "Dave" Mickem, U.S. Army, deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Platoon, 202nd Military Police Company. Staff Sergeant Mickem is a Police Transition Team Leader for the Khalis District. He ensures the training and proper management by the Iraqi police for each of the stations in the district. This is Staff Sergeant Mickem's first deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sergeant Paul E. Savage, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps (Somerville, Massachusetts)
Sergeant Paul E. Savage, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, deployed to Afghanistan with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine regiment. Sergeant Savage provides real-time analysis of the enemy threat in order to give commanders a clear picture of the battle space.

Lance Corporal Levi Koski, U.S. Marine Corps (Livermore, California)
Lance Corporal Levi Koski, U.S. Marine Corps, deployed to Camp Ramadi, Iraq, with Combat Logistics Battalion 5. Lance Corporal Koski is a Hygiene Equipment Operator.

Petty Officer First Class Corey A. Snowden, U.S. Navy (Houston, Texas)
Petty Officer First Class Corey A. Snowden, U.S. Navy, deployed to U.S Naval Central Command, 5th Fleet, Manama, Bahrain. Petty Officer Snowden leads a division of controllers, database managers and systems operators. In addition Petty Officer Snowden was one of a select few enlisted sailors to qualify as Joint Interface Control Cell Watch Officer.

Petty Officer Second Class Ronnie C. Giordani, U.S. Navy (North Tonawanda, New York)
Petty Officer Second Class Ronnie C. Giordani, U.S. Navy, deployed to Balad, Iraq, with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SEVEN. Petty Officer Giordani is a construction mechanic with the U.S. Navy Seabees. He works for the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force.

Senior Airman Victoria L. Drefs, U.S. Air Force (Armour, South Dakota)
Senior Airman Victoria L. Drefs, U.S. Air Force, deployed to Kyrgyzstan with the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing. Senior Airman Drefs distributes aircraft fuel to airframes providing direct support to aerial refueling operations. She also ensures aircraft fuel is tested and meets proper specifications.

Airman First Class Thomas A. "Adam" Everett, U.S. Air Force (Summerville, Georgia)
Airman First Class Thomas A. "Adam" Everett, U.S. Air Force, deployed with 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Airman Everett provides security for tactical airlift aircraft, aircrew and passengers during and in between missions.

Petty Officer Third Class James Nichols, U.S. Coast Guard (Gloucester, Virginia)
Petty Officer Third Class James Nichols, U.S. Coast Guard, deployed to Barbers Points, Hawaii. Petty Officer Nichols serves as an aviation electrician and Aircrew member.

Seaman Michael "Mike" Manning, U.S. Coast Guard, (Mesa, Arizona)
Seaman Michael "Mike" Manning, U.S. Coast Guard, deployed to Attu, Alaska. Seaman Manning serves as a watch-stander in the engineering department.

Sergeant Shannon M. Dyer, U.S. Army Reserve, (Redlands, California)
Sergeant Shannon M. Dyer, U.S. Army Reserve, deployed to Orangeburg, New York, assigned to Police Transition Team in Iraq. Sergeant Dyer is responsible for training Iraqi police in their administrative and security duties. This is Sergeant Dyer's second assignment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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