KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii ? President Barack Obama expressed his gratitude Sunday to troops gathered here for Christmas dinner, taking photos and offering greetings to Marines and their families.
?Merry Christmas, everybody,? the president said as he and first lady Michelle Obama entered the mess at Anderson Hall on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Continue ReadingVisiting troops on the base has become an annual tradition for the Obamas, who have stopped by the meal each Christmas since Obama was president-elect.
The president and first lady made their way around the room slowly, offering ?Merry Christmas,? ?Mele Kalikimaka? and at least one ?Feliz Navidad.?
Obama posed with plenty of children, including one 8-month-old boy who stuck his fingers into the president?s mouth.
?What?s goin? on, man? How ya doin??? the president asked Cooper Wall Wagner before hoisting the baby into his arms.
Baby Cooper, wearing a red sweater vest, and red, white and blue plaid shorts, reached for the president?s nose before sticking some of his fingers into the president?s mouth. ?See that big nose and say, ?I want some of that big nose,?? it sounded like Obama said.
On Christmas Eve, Obama also paid tribute to the troops, calling 10 members of the military ? two from each branch ? ?to wish them a happy holiday and thank them for their service,? principal deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said.
The president?s tributes to the troops after a decade of war come just a week after the final U.S. combat troops left Iraq, and as the drawdown of the troop surge in Afghanistan has gotten under way.
The first family began the day by exchanging gifts around 8 a.m. They had breakfast and sang Christmas carols before heading to holiday services at the base?s chapel. The White House didn?t say what gifts were exchanged, but the president went shopping this week in Northern Virginia and bought ?Just Dance 3? and ?The Sims 3 Pets,? plus two $50 iTunes gift cards, for daughters Malia and Sasha.
After church, the first family spent a few midday hours at home ? carefully coinciding with the Chicago Bulls?s 88-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers ? before the president and first lady returned to the base to greet troops.
The Obamas planned to have Christmas dinner together at home on Sunday night.
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