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1253130
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12/16/76 - Remarks at the Pageant of Peace Prior to Lighting the National Christmas Tree
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1253130
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document
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12/16/76 - Remarks at the Pageant of Peace Prior to Lighting the National Christmas Tree
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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Holidays
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1253130
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16
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1976-12-16
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12
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1976
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16
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1976-12-16
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12
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 42, "12/16/76 - Remarks at the Pageant of Peace
Prior to Lighting the National Christmas Tree" of the President's Speeches and
Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 42 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
54
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
REMARKS AT CHRISTMAS PAGEANT OF PEACE
AND LIGHTING THE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1976
ACKNOW LEDGEMENTS
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PAGEANT OF PEACE
THANK YOU, MR. DIXON
MR. AMBASSADOR
(SEVILLA-SACASA)
SECRETARY KLEPPE
MAYOR WASHINGTON
DIRECTOR EVERHARDT
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
-1-
AS OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE,
IT IS ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE TO GATHER ONCE MORE AROUND THIS
TRADITIONAL SYMBOL OF FAMILY TIES AND FRIENDLY REUNIONS --
OUR NATION'S CHRISTMAS TREE
IN DOING so, WE COMBINE
OUR YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION OF HISTORICAL EVENTS WITH A PERSONAL
REDEDICATION TO TIMELESS VALUES.
-2-
THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS HAS NOT CHANGED OVER THE
COURSE OF 20 CENTURIES: PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARDS
MEN
THAT MESSAGE IS AS INSPIRING TODAY AS IT WAS WHEN
IT WAS FIRST PROCLAIMED TO THE SHEPHERDS NEAR BETHLEHEM
IN 1976, AMERICA HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH PEACE AND
A SIGNIFICANT RESTORATION OF DOMESTIC HARMONY
-3-
BUT TRUE PEACE IS MORE THAN THE ABSENCE OF BATTLE
IT IS ALSO THE ABSENCE OF PREJUDICE AND THE TRIUMPH OF
UNDERSTANDING
BROTHERHOOD AMONG ALL PEOPLES MUST BE THE
SOLID CORNERSTONE OF A LASTING PEACE
IT HAS BEEN
A SUSTAINING FORCE FOR OUR NATION AND REMAINS A GUIDING STAR
FOR OUR FUTURE
-4-
THE CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS IS OBSERVED ON
EVERY CONTINENT
THE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS
THE SAME
BUT THE FEELINGS THAT ARE GENERATED BETWEEN
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE EQUALLY STRONG AND WARM
-5-
IN A FEW MOMENTS, I WILL TURN THE SWITCH THAT LIGHTS UP
OUR NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE
AS BEAUTIFUL AS THAT TREE IS,
IT WILL BE ONLY A SYMBOL IF ITS LIGHT IS NOT MATCHED BY THE
GLOW OF LOVE IN OUR HEARTS
-6-
IT IS MY PERSONAL PRAYER ON THIS CHRISTMAS OF 1976,
THAT THE TREE WHICH I LIGHT TONIGHT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING --
THAT EACH OF YOU WILL ALSO LIGHT A FLAME OF LOVE --
LOVE THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE EYES OF ALL OUR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS ACROSS THE NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD
-7-
NOW, BETTY JOINS ME IN WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS YOU
END OF TEXT