President visits, spreads Holiday Cheer

Photo By Cpl. Colby Brown | President of the United States Barack Obama greets Chief Warrant Officer Sheldon L. Gridley, food service officer and officer in charge of Anderson Hall aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay. More than 250 people were able to meet the president during his Christmas Day visit to the MCB Hawaii dining hall.  

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, UNITED STATES

12.30.2010

Story by Cpl. Colby Brown 

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII — Among the highlights of the first family’s recent Hawaiian vacation was spending time with Marines, sailors and families here Dec. 25. More than 250 people met the president and first lady during their Christmas day visit to the Anderson dining hall.

"Having the president visit is a great opportunity for the Marines and sailors to meet our Commander-in-Chief and it's an honor to host his visit," said Col. Robert Rice, base commander.

This is the third year the president has taken time out of his holiday vacation for an unannounced visit to the troops during Christmas dinner.

“I was shocked. I hadn’t planned on meeting the president,” said Pfc. Dominique Holiday, rifleman, Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, who hails from Chicago.

While at the dining hall, the president made his way to each table shaking hands, holding babies and spreading holiday cheer.

“It was nice to meet him. I kind of thought, since he is the president, he would be different,” Holiday said. “But when I talked to him, it was like I was talking to a regular guy. He made me feel comfortable. He is everything you want a president to be, in person.”

The president also used his weekly radio on the White House website (feed://www.whitehouse.gov/podcast/audio/weekly-addresses/rss.xml) to wish the more than 100,000 deployed service members happy holidays and thanked them for their sacrifice.

During his visit, he frequented the Semper Fit gymnasium and the Klipper golf course. The first family also spent time at the newly renovated K-bay Lanes bowling alley, went to Pyramid Rock Beach and visited Island Snow in Kailuawhere he treated his family and the White House press pod to shaved ice, according to media reports.

"It was fantastic to be able to meet the president," said Ron Wilke, retired Army Master Sgt. native of Dotson Mont. "The way the President and first lady act so naturally, they just make you feel comfortable,” he said after shaking hands with the Commander-in-Chief.

• Date Taken: 12.30.2010
• Date Posted: 12.30.2010 21:59
• Story ID: 62805
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, US