Obama pays tribute to U.S. troops on Christmas
https://dervishcom.blogspot.com/2011/12/obama-pays-tribute-to-us-troops-on.html
HONOLULU — President Obama paid tribute to U.S. service members and to his faith Sunday, marking his third Christmas here as commander-in-chief by making calls to troops and attending church with his family.
Having recently hailed the end of the U.S. war in Iraq, Obama spent Christmas Eve speaking by phone to 10 members of the Armed Forces — thanking two from each service, White House aides said. The president and his family were scheduled to visit Marines stationed at a base here on Sunday evening.
In the morning, Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, along with daughters Malia and Sasha, attended services at the Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay Chapel. The president was dressed casually in a navy polo shirt and khaki slacks.
The first lady wore a white dress with an orange band around the waist of a full skirt that featured stripes of orange, pink and yellow. She was wearing orange flats.
Sasha donned a dark dress with a colorful dot patter, with Malia wearing a white dress with white dots.
The family had opened Christmas presents and sang in the morning, aides said. There was no word on the presents, but Obama had revealed some of the gifts for his daughters when he went shopping in Alexandria last week. He bought a video game for the Nintendo Wii called “Just Dance 3,” along with an iTunes gift card.
“The girls beat me every time on these dance games,” he quipped to reporters that day, adding: “You’ll never get a picture of me [playing] because I get graded F every time.”
Obama is in Hawaii, where he grew up, for a 10-day vacation. He and his family have come every year during his presidency, and the president has tried to stay out of the limelight during his holidays.
After arriving here Friday night, he went to dinner at a local Japanese restaurant with family and friends and, on Saturday, he spent more than five hours on the golf course with longtime friends and White House aides.
The first lady got into the Christmas spirit Saturday, helping children track the progress of Santa Claus through the NORAD program.
Locals have greeted their native son warmly. As the Obama motorcade made its way to the Marine base, a blue sign on the roadside read “E komo mai ohana Obama,” welcoming the first family to town.
The president, who is staying in a rental compound, is scheduled to remain in Hawaii until Jan. 2, when he will return to Washington.
Having recently hailed the end of the U.S. war in Iraq, Obama spent Christmas Eve speaking by phone to 10 members of the Armed Forces — thanking two from each service, White House aides said. The president and his family were scheduled to visit Marines stationed at a base here on Sunday evening.
In the morning, Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, along with daughters Malia and Sasha, attended services at the Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay Chapel. The president was dressed casually in a navy polo shirt and khaki slacks.
The first lady wore a white dress with an orange band around the waist of a full skirt that featured stripes of orange, pink and yellow. She was wearing orange flats.
Sasha donned a dark dress with a colorful dot patter, with Malia wearing a white dress with white dots.
The family had opened Christmas presents and sang in the morning, aides said. There was no word on the presents, but Obama had revealed some of the gifts for his daughters when he went shopping in Alexandria last week. He bought a video game for the Nintendo Wii called “Just Dance 3,” along with an iTunes gift card.
“The girls beat me every time on these dance games,” he quipped to reporters that day, adding: “You’ll never get a picture of me [playing] because I get graded F every time.”
Obama is in Hawaii, where he grew up, for a 10-day vacation. He and his family have come every year during his presidency, and the president has tried to stay out of the limelight during his holidays.
After arriving here Friday night, he went to dinner at a local Japanese restaurant with family and friends and, on Saturday, he spent more than five hours on the golf course with longtime friends and White House aides.
The first lady got into the Christmas spirit Saturday, helping children track the progress of Santa Claus through the NORAD program.
Locals have greeted their native son warmly. As the Obama motorcade made its way to the Marine base, a blue sign on the roadside read “E komo mai ohana Obama,” welcoming the first family to town.
The president, who is staying in a rental compound, is scheduled to remain in Hawaii until Jan. 2, when he will return to Washington.
