A day in the life of President Bush (12/26/04): many photos

WhiteHouse.gov & Yahoo News Photos ^ | 12/26/04

[Wolfstar]

CAUTION: This thread may take a while to download since it contains many photos.

This morning, Dec. 26, 2004, President and Mrs. Bush, Mrs. Bush's mother, and Barney flew to Crawford after spending Chrismas at Camp David. The Crawford Pirates won the State 2A Division II football title this season. After AF1 touched down in Waco, the President and First Lady met with the team and coaches. They presented him with two football jerseys: the traditional #1 jersey given to presidents by sports teams visiting the WH -- and a #43 jersey.

On Christmas Eve, President Bush called the following members of the U.S. Armed Forces from Camp David:

• Private First Class Kenneth L. Vest, USA, United Nations Command Security Battalion, Camp Bonifas, Korea
  
• Staff Sergeant Eric A. Julian, USA, 300th Area Support Group/736th Transportation Company, Talill, Iraq
  
• Corporal Robert Restaino Jr., USMC, Reconnaissance Platoon, 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable, II Marine Expeditionary Force, U. S. Marine Corps Forces Atlantic
  
• Corporal Malcolm N. Hedgepeth, USMC, HQ Battery, 2d Battalion 10th Marines (Provisional Infantry Battalion), Iraq
  
• Hospitalman Roman R. Cruz, USN, Bravo Surgical Company, Combat Service Support Group 15, Camp Fallujah, Iraq
  
• Petty Officer First Class Michael D. Watts, USN, Hospital Corpsman (SEAL), SEAL Team Three, Naval Special Warfare Task Group, Iraq
  
• Staff Sergeant Santiago James Fontanez, USAF, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Baghdad, Iraq
  
• Airman First Class, Benjamin J. Miller, USAF, 16th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida, Deployed to Iraq
  
• Fireman Michael M. Joseph, USCG, USCG Loran Station Attu, Alaska
  
• Petty Officer Third Class Melissa M. Johnson, USCG, United States Coast Guard Cutter, MUNRO Homeport, Alameda, CA

On this day after Christmas, please join the President in showing our troops how much we care. Please consider one of these ways to show support for them. There is a long tradition of writing letters and sending care packages to troops stationed away from home. To minimize delays and complications in getting this kind of support to our troops, the Department of Defense recommends the following:

Through Operation Dear Abby, send e-mail messages to deployed troops of any Service from your home state (http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/).

Through Defend America, sign an online thank you card for troops (http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html).

Through Operation USA Care Package, contribute to the purchase of a care package of items requested by troops such as sunscreen, disposable cameras, prepaid calling cards, and toiletries. (http://www.usocares.org).

QUOTES OF THE DAY: From the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance speech by President George W. Bush, September 14, 2001

As we have been assured, neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, can separate us from God's love. May He bless the souls of the departed. May He comfort our own. And may He always guide our country.

I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people.

From the President's Christmas Day 2004 Radio Address:

Christmastime reminds each of us that we have a duty to our fellow citizens, that we are called to love our neighbor just as we would like to be loved ourselves. By volunteering our time and talents where they are needed most, we help heal the sick, comfort those who suffer, and bring hope to those who despair, one heart and one soul at a time.

During the holidays, we also keep in our thoughts and prayers the men and women of our Armed Forces, especially those far from home, separated from family and friends by the call of duty. In Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, these skilled and courageous Americans are fighting the enemies of freedom and protecting our country from danger. By bringing liberty to the oppressed, our troops are helping to win the war on terror, and they are defending the freedom and security of us all. They and their families are making many sacrifices for our nation, and for that, all Americans are deeply grateful.

Christmas reminds us that the grandest purposes of God can be found in the humblest places, and it gives us hope that all the love and gifts that come to us in this life are the signs and symbols of an even greater love and gift that came on a holy night.

[Wolfstar]

PHOTOS OF THE DAY (hard to pick just one today):

The President calling members of the U.S. Armed Forces from Camp David on Christmas Eve:

In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Fireman Michael Joseph speaks with President Bush from the Coast Guard Long Range Navigation Station on Attu Island, Alaska, at the end of the remote Aleutian Island chain Friday, Dec. 24, 2004. Every year the President calls a member of each Armed Service to wish them a merry Christmas. The president spoke with Joseph at 4:40 a.m. Alaska time. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard, Michael Marion)

Leaning on the back of Crawford Pirates player Derek Dumas as coach Robert Murphy (L) and teammate Hunter Brown watch, the President signs Dumas's #3 jersey. GWB has said several times that he was following the exploits of the championship Pirates.

PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE 'ALL CLEAR' IS GIVEN BEFORE POSTING OTHER PHOTOS/IMAGES. IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TODAY SINCE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF POTOS POSTED BEFORE THE 'ALL CLEAR.'

[Wolfstar]

Pinging to your post-Christmas Dose.

[Wolfstar]

Other photos from this morning: The President had to chase down Barney, who had wandered away at Andrews AFB before leaving for Crawford.

[Wolfstar]

The President pulls the First Lady into the Crawford Pirates group photo.

[Wolfstar]

This group is from the "White House at Work" photo essay series.

The Oval Office: President George W. Bush hosts a meeting with senior advisers. The first Oval Office was built in 1909 during the Taft Administration.

[Peach]

I do believe I'm first!

[Wolfstar]

The President and the people...

[Bahbah]

A promise of "many pictures." Yet another gift this season.

[Wolfstar]

The President, children and T-ball...

(left) The President and baseball Hall of Famer, and Honorary WH T-ball Commissioner, Cal Ripkin. (right) The President with the great Dallas Cowboys running back, Emmitt Smith.

[Wolfstar]

Former First Lady Barbara Bush hugging one of the mascots at a T-ball game.

[Wolfstar]

The White House social scene (right, First Lady chairs a conference in the Red Room):

The East Room:

(left) The Entry and Cross Hall. (right) The State Dining Room.

The Green Room: (left) The First Lady with the wife of the Polish president during an official state visit. (right) Paula Zahn interviewing then First Lady Barbara Bush (and Millie), 10/30/92.

[Wolfstar]

Laura Bush poses in the Map Room for a Family Circle article featuring the White House's 2001 holiday decorations Sept. 10, 2001.

[Wolfstar]

The Vice President:

The VP fishing the Snake River in Idaho.

The VP and Alan Greenspan aboard AF2.

The VP riding the range in the Grand Teton Mountains.

Moments before the dedication ceremony of the Cheney Alumni Field, Vice President Dick Cheney talks with the Natrona County High School football team in the locker room in Casper, Wyo.

[Wolfstar]

Mrs. Lynne Cheney:

[Wolfstar]

From the "Portraits of the President's House, The Staff:" Spotty and the WH doorman of 46 years, waiting for the Boss.

[Wolfstar]

Yummy, red balls.

[Wolfstar]

(left) I'm dreaming of a new sister... (right) They call this stuff snow?

The making of "Barney Cam" (so that's how they do it).

In the Diplomatic Reception Room, Barney waits attentively for President Bush.

The Vice President's Jackson (yellow Lab) and Dave (black Lab)

[Wolfstar]

ALL CLEAR

[hoosiermama]

Thanks....almost forgot out "treat"!

[Wolfstar]

I do believe I'm first!

Congratulations, Peach!