My very first Christmas, I remember very well, I was in a boat with General George Washington, crossing the Delaware on his way to Valley Forge.

By Christmas of 1814, Francis Scott Key had written a famous song about me after the British had burned our White House. That song became our national anthem.

During the Civil War, on the Christmas of 1862 all men were free from slavery. I was really proud that Christmas.

The Christmas of 1917 was a miserable one. During World War I, I was in France, in a cold and freezing battle but I stayed on to give our men hope.

In 1941, General Douglas MacArthur spent Christmas with me in Manila, cheering our men on during World War II.

I’ve been to Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. I’ve even been to the moon. I’ve been almost everywhere in the world, on one Christmas or another, since that long-ago time we crossed the Delaware.

I’ll still be around this Christmas. I might not get as much attention as Christmas trees or presents. But I’ll still be here, giving hope and courage to the men, women, and families of our country.