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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
DOL Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
Frances Perkins Building
Thursday, December 8, 2005
Thank you, James [James Briscoe, President, DOL Recreation Association].
And my special thanks to everyone at the Recreation Association for their great work in decorating this year's tree. I know it is a big job and it looks lovely.
And I want to thank the DOL Blacks in Government Gospel Choir, and also Joe Wirfs from OASAM, for their special contributions to today's celebration.
Today, we kick off our traditional holiday season. The tree at the White House is lit, the tree in Rockefeller Center is lit, and even the tree in the Pentagon City Mall is lit. But for me, the holiday season is not officially underway until we light our tree here at the Department with the children from the Child Development Center.
Before we light the tree, I would like to ask the Director of the Child Development Center, Simone Baitey, to please join me.
Thank you for the great work you and your staff do to care for the little ones who mean so much to our DOL family. We greatly appreciate the gentle care and learning you provide for the children, and the peace of mind you provide to so many DOL parents. I also want to thank all the DOL parents with us today, who have a child at the center.
To show our appreciation and lend our help in a small way, we use this special occasion to present new books for the children. We all know how important reading is for a child's development.
The President and First Lady are passionate advocates of reading to young children. As a teacher and librarian, the First Lady has encouraged us to read to children early and often.
I am pleased to present these new selections for the bookshelf—"The Very Busy Bee"; "Incredible You!"; "Draw Me a Star"; and "Disney's Storybook Collection." These books contain wonderful stories to engage the children's intellect and imagination.
Now, who would like to help me light the tree?
This is the moment everyone has been waiting for. Are you ready?
Thank you for helping—you did a great job!
What's that noise? It sounds like the bells on Santa's sleigh!
Look everyone! It's Santa Claus.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone!
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