MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - For the fifth year in a row, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent Christmas afternoon with Marines, sailors and family members at Anderson Hall Dining Facility on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 25.
Service members and their families had their fill of a holiday meal while waiting for the president and the first lady to arrive. Once they entered the room, everyone’s focus shifted to the president and his wife as they greeted people on his way to address the crowd.
“This looks like it was a nice, rather than naughty, crowd,”
Obama said. “So I’m sure Santa treated you well.”
“Obviously, the greatest honor I have as president is being commander-in-chief,” he continued. “And the reason it’s an honor is because, not only do we have the finest military in the world, but we also have the finest fighting men and women in the world. And so many of you make sacrifices day in, day out, on behalf of our freedom, on behalf of our security.”
After speaking to the crowd, the president and his wife exited the room and waited by a Christmas tree to pose for photos with those in attendance.
“The president and first lady took a picture with anybody who wanted one,” said Pfc. Rodolfo Medina, a personal property clerk with the Distribution Management Office, Headquarters Battalion, and a native of Dallas. “The president, taking time out of his Christmas Day visiting with people on MCB Hawaii, really shows he cares about the welfare of Marines and sailors.”
Obama and his wife spent several hours meeting and greeting visitors. Guests all had smiles after they talked and took a photo with the presidential couple.
“I’m very happy that I could bring my son out to see the president,” said Cpl. Jason Hubbard, a squad leader with Transportation Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, and a native of Colrain, Mass. “I want my family and I to look back into our past and be proud that we got to meet the president while I was in the Marine Corps.”